CODE OF ETHICSICTV News Department

1/2014

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Preamble 3

II. For Journalists 4

II.A. Honesty 5

II.B. Independence 7

II.C. Transparency 9

II.D. Accountability 10

II.E. Respect 11

III. For News Stories 12

III.A. Accuracy 13

III.B. Fairness 15

III.C. Impartiality 17

III.D. Completeness 18

IV. Specific Instances 19

2

I. Preamble

The purpose of this guide is to establish the definition of journalism within Ithaca CollegeTelevision (ICTV)’s News Department. It is the responsibility of ICTV journalists, producers ofnews programs, and the News Director to adhere to these ethical guidelines at all times.

The purpose of having a code of ethics is to protect the credibility of ICTV News programming byensuring high standards of professionalism, integrity, impartiality, and honesty. This isaccomplished by articulating the ethical standards for both journalists and the content theyproduce and by establishing rules and policies to assist in the enforcement of these standards.

This code is divided into two sections: one for journalists and one for news stories. Therefore,this code applies to all ICTV members who report news (including hosts, reporters, journalists,and Executive Staff members) and to all ICTV members that oversee a news program.

An organization that produces journalism is always testing and questioning the credibility orothers, and as such, we also must test ourselves. Our audience depends on ICTV to provide atruthful portrayal of issues in all of our broadcasts, and this code is a tool to help do so.

The ICTV Code of Ethics was adapted from the Ethical Codes of several news organizations,including that of National Public Radio, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Association ofElectronic Journalists, and WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio. This code is to be used as anaccompaniment to existing U.S. laws protecting and establishing journalistic practices.

3

II. For Journalists

This section of the ICTV Code of Ethics is devoted to ethical journalistic practices for journalists.When reporting, journalists should strive to seek and publish the truth. This code addressespotential conflicts and reminds individuals that those who work as journalists should strive forhonesty, independence, transparency, and accountability.

The ICTV Code of Ethics is not intended as a burden for journalists. Rather, this code is a guideon how to practice professional and ethical news gathering and publishing free of uncertainty andshould be used by individuals to measure their work.

Collegiate journalists who follow a Code of Ethics will no doubt find a transition to professional(i.e. non­student media) journalism significantly easier. Adoption of and adherence to ajournalism code of ethics will lead to greater credibility for each journalist, as well as the newsdepartment of ICTV.

4

II.A. Honesty

As stated in National Public Radio’s Ethics Handbook:

“Journalists who conduct themselves honestly prove themselves worthy of trust. In the course ofour work, we are genuine and candid. We attribute information we receive from others, makingperfectly clear to our audience what information comes from which source. We avoid hyperboleand sensational conjecture. We may sometimes construct hypotheticals to help explain issuesand events, but we reveal any fabrication, and do not otherwise mix fiction with our newsreporting. We edit and present information honestly, without deception, and we identify ourselvesas NPR journalists when we report. Only in the rarest of instances – such as when public safetyis at issue, or when lives are at stake – might we disguise our identity or intent when reporting.Before we take such a step, we engage in rigorous deliberation and consider all alternatives.Then, when we tell the story, we fully disclose what we did and why.”

Below are guidelines for honest journalistic practices:

All reporting and interviewing should always be done openly and truthfully.

Journalism is not spy work. It should always be done in plain sight and the journalist shouldalways identify themselves as a journalist when working. There should be no hiding of trueidentities, hidden microphones or cameras, or recorded conversations without the consent of allparties. While this is permitted by state laws, ICTV does not condone this unless in very specificcircumstances. Discuss with the News Director to determine if an appropriate circumstancehas arisen.

Audiences have the right to know what information comes from where.

Plagiarism is illegal and unethical. Not only is it not permitted on ICTV (in any circumstance), butit is outlawed in the United States of America. As such, no materials from another source shouldbe used word for word in an ICTV report without attribution. This is includes all professionalmaterials, including that from the Associated Press.

Whenever a person’s words are used, they should be encased with quotes or clearly stated thatthe phrase comes from another individual. If a quote is paraphrased for space or clarity, asource should still be identified. Any changes to a direct quote should be marked using theappropriate punctuation.

Fabrication is not tolerated, and journalists must accurately depict reality.

Even though it “might make the story better,” no journalist should re­create scenes usingdishonest materials to improve their story. For example, if a journalist arrives 30 minutes late toa funeral, it would be unethical to ask the participants to recreate the funeral for the camera. It

5

would also be unethical to use material from a different event that is covered in the story. Aviewer needs to be able to trust the journalist and his/her sources.When identifying as an ICTV Journalist online, remember that there is no privacy.

Relating back to an earlier point, it is imperative that journalists honestly identify themselves.This also relates to one’s social media accounts and use of online forums. When working on astory, do not use a pseudonym. If using an online forum to follow an issue, do not useinformation from these forums (or any online source) without personal identification of the sourceand the proper research to support the user’s claims.

Keep in mind that nothing on the web is truly private. If you choose to identify as an ICTVjournalist online, you should act professionally. You are choosing to represent ICTV (and yourrespective program) and by acting unethically on the Internet, you undermine your ­ and ICTV’s ­credibility.

6

II.B. Independence

A journalist should seek to share the truth with the public. As such, a journalist’s allegiance isnot to any organization or institution ­ it is to the public. Any actions that conflict with personal orprofessional interests, whether in actuality or not, compromises the credibility of ICTV news.

Under no circumstances should reports be altered for personal gain, to help bolster ICTV, thePark School of Communications, or Ithaca College, or to appease those who oversee ICTVfunds and programming. Decisions about ICTV news stories that are covered and how they arecovered is done by journalists and journalists alone.

Below are guidelines for independent journalistic practices:

If a conflict of interest presents itself, a journalist should remove him/herself from theconflict.

This is the most ethical way to end the conflict. For example, if a student chooses to work on apolitical campaign, they should avoid reporting on it for the duration of the campaign. Instead, thereporter can cover other stories or topics ­ as to still be involved with ICTV news. Additionally,the journalist should make this conflict of interest known to their producers and, if relevant, theICTV News Director.

Private information should not be exploited for news.

It is common for journalists to have access to confidential information. While the best use of thisinformation is to share it with the public, it should never be used without proper permission. It isalso imperative that embargo not be broken in specific situations. In addition, confidentialinformation with anyone inside or outside of ICTV must not be shared with anyone who intends touse that information for personal or institutional gain.

Journalists tell stories, they do not sell them.

Journalism is powerful. It changes lives, dictates the topic of conversation, and can impact theworld. It is important to remembers that journalists are storytellers, not sellers of products orpromoters of individuals/organizations. All news on ICTV should be objective of personal andprofessional conflict, as it is a journalist’s job to inform their viewers about stories ­ not toconvince the audience of their importance.

Sources and audience members do not dictate coverage.

Sources do not have prior approval of a story, nor are they allowed to dictate how a story will becovered and who else is included in the story. This is also true with audience members.Though they may have suggestions, the course of a story is decided upon by a journalist. If a

7

journalist chooses to listen to these suggestions, then it should be of their own volition. ICTVjournalists should also avoid signing non­disclosure agreements (when relevant) and use otherhandout materials (like press releases) carefully.

Journalists should maintain their own independence.

All notes, video, audio, and other working materials from journalistic work belong to ICTV. Assuch, they should never be turned over to individuals or institutions. If such materials arerequested by a governmental, administrative, or legal person or organization, immediatelycontact the News Director and Station Manager.

In addition, journalists should not partake in associations and activities that compromise theirpersonal integrity as an objective journalist. They should refuse gifts, favors, and other specialtreatment to avoid harming their credibility.

8

II.C. Transparency

As promoters of the first amendment, it is important that we provide the public with methods tocritique our work as journalists. We should be as open about our processes as possible andshould be able to support every fact that is presented in a story. We also should disclose anypotential conflicts of interest ­ with institutions or persons ­ that could potentially influence ourcoverage.

This goes hand­in­hand with honest journalism. A journalist should also represent him/herselfhonestly to promote transparency within his/her work and, in turn, within ICTV. Through this, weshow that viewers can trust ICTV’s news coverage.

Below are guidelines for transparent journalistic practices:

Label all material correctly.

ICTV utilizes footage from CNN as well as other various sources. As such, this content shouldbe clearly labeled so the viewer knows the source of the information. A viewer should not beexpected to “infer” where information came from, nor should the source of this information be“implied” ­ a journalist should clearly state the source so there is no confusion.

Anonymous sources should not be used unless approved by the News Director.

Individual journalists do not have the authority to assure any individual that anonymousinformation will be used in an ICTV news story. Generally, journalists should avoid usinganonymous sources unless a special circumstance arises. If this type of circumstance shouldarise, it should be treated as such:

Anonymous sources should not be used to attack an individual or organization A disguise should not be used to protect the anonymous source Anonymous sources should be described as clearly as possible without identifying them

(ex: instead of “an official,” use “a White House official who was at the pressconference”)

When attributing information to anonymous sources, journalists should take special care toattribute all information correctly.

9

II.D. Accountability

Journalists are accountable to their audiences and to each other. One of the many functions ofthe Fourth Estate is to encourage dialogue about journalism, and this includes accepting boththe successes and failures of a journalist’s work.

Mistakes, unfortunately, are inevitable. In today’s day and age, what’s most important is that ajournalist owns up to their mistakes and works to correct them in a timely manner. This is evenmore important within ICTV, as journalists are not only journalists, but students as well. We fixour mistakes, reflect on them, and learn from our experiences.

Below are guidelines for accountable journalistic practices:

All mistakes should be fixed in a timely manner.

Whether this involves re­editing a package, issuing an on­air apology, or utilizing social media,mistakes should be fixed as soon as possible. Mistakes demand immediate attention, whetheron air or off. This is not only to protect the integrity of ICTV, but also to avoid potential legalaction (due to slander or defamation charges).

If you see or hear a mistake, speak up!

This goes without saying, but the less mistakes the better. Calling attention to a potentialmistake should never be seen as an insult or an attack on one’s journalistic talent. Rather, itshould be seen as a form of fact­checking intended to protect the integrity of ICTV. Fewermistakes means more trust from the public, an imperative factor to the success of ICTV news.

10

II.E. Respect

Perhaps most important, ethical journalism should treat all others ­ peers, sources, subjects,etc. ­ with respect. Always prepare to act with compassion and sensitivity in difficult situations,be cautious, and recognize that journalism is not a method to invade peoples’ privacy.

As the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics states, “Pursuit of the news is not alicense for arrogance.” All human beings deserve an equal amount of respect, so no matter thestory you cover or the source you use ­ keep this in mind as you cover the news.

Below are guidelines for respectful journalistic practices:

Be cautious.

When seeking interviews or multimedia material for a story on a sensitive subject, always beoverly cautious as to avoid upsetting those negatively affected by news. Be especially awarewhen working with children, inexperienced sources/subjects, tragic events, and criminal cases.In regards to criminal cases, balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s rightsto be informed.

Recognize the right of privacy.

A private citizen has the right to control information about him/herself ­ be aware of this,especially in contrast to dealing with public figures. Only an overriding public need can justifyintrusion into one’s privacy, so make sure to consult with others (especially the News Director)before doing so.

Show compassion.

Though it might sound trivial, keep in mind that everyone that you work with is a human being.It’s important to remember that the search for knowledge and the pursuit of the truth are nobleand human ambitions; as a result, you should act human when doing so. Treat everyone youmeet with respect and show good taste with coverage. It’s important to be a good human beingwhilst on your journey to becoming a great journalist.

11

III. For News Stories

This section of the ICTV Code of Ethics is devoted to ethical practices for news stories. Theoverall goal for all news within ICTV is excellence, and by creating stories that are accurate, fair,impartial, and complete, ICTV journalists will do so.

The ICTV Code of Ethics is not intended as a burden for journalists. Rather, this code is a guideon how to create professional and ethical news stories. Not only can this guide be used as amethod for journalists to check their work, it can also be used as a tool to create news stories fora professional level.

Should news within ICTV not follow the here­to­be­listed standards, they disqualify themselvesas ICTV news and should re­brand themselves accordingly. While the genres of news maydiffer based on each program, all news should follow the same guidelines. If you are concernedabout your show abiding to these standards, please contact the ICTV News Director to discuss.

12

III.A. Accuracy

If journalists do not double­check their facts before presenting a story, then how are viewerssupposed to trust them? A journalist’s purpose is to share the truth with the public, andaccuracy is crucial to that goal. News must be fact­checked multiple times before a story goespublic, challenging both the topic of the story as well as accompanying assumptions.

Below are guidelines for creating accurate news stories:

Be able to identify the source of each fact in your story.

It doesn’t matter if it’s general or if it’s specific ­ each fact needs to have a source. In addition,language should be chosen carefully in order to avoid controversy. Through double­checkingsources, one guards themselves against subjective and objective errors.

Be especially aware when working on a story that may cause grief or hurt one’sreputation.

There are laws preventing slander and defamation, so ICTV journalists should take special carewhen working with sensitive material. When possible (which will be most of the time), wait untilnews has been confirmed by authoritative sources. If it involves an individual, wait until you arecertain the family is aware.

Consider using the following accuracy checklist:

Is every name and title correctly spelled? Are the quotes accurate and properly attributed? Have I reviewed my spelling and grammar? Is every number/calculation/piece of data correct? Are all terms being used correctly? Does every fact in teh story match the information with any photos/graphics/video

associated with it? Do I need to check a source’s “fact” against what others are saying? Is the story fair? Does the story work?

(courtesy of National Public Radio)

Seek diverse perspectives.

If you interview members of the same demographic for the same story, you will likely get similarresponses. In order to get the full picture of what’s going on, make sure to interview people fromas many different demographics as possible. For example, if you’re doing a story about the

13

closing of the TC lounge, try to interview students who go there frequently as well as those whodo not.

Give preference to original sources.

Try to use as much ICTV original reporting material as possible.

Attribute everything!

This is key to being accurate ­ and cannot be pressed enough.

When using images or videos from the Internet, be wary of Terms of Service and givecredit where credit is due.

While it is easy to take sources off of the Internet for a news story, doing so may violate awebsite’s Terms of Service. If you want to take multimedia material off of a website, read theENTIRE document before doing so ­ this way, you will avoid potential legal action and you canalso be an ethical journalist! Hooray!

14

III.B. Fairness

In order to tell the best story possible, all subjects and sources must be treated equally.Providing accurate information and allowing individuals to defend themselves is key, but it is alsoimportant to stay open­minded. Always be true to the story, never construe what somebody issaying, and stay balanced ­ even when the issue does not appear to be. A journalist’s goal is toseek the truth, and fairness is key to that.

Below are guidelines for creating fair news stories:

Never misrepresent anyone.

Even if it’s a mistake, it can have serious repercussions. Mistakes discourage viewers fromtrusting ICTV news as well as damage one’s personal and professional reputation. Trust isimportant, as is careful wording. Used language should always be objective and neutral ­enlighten an issue, never inflame it.

A source should never be surprised with how they are represented in a story.

When a source hears the story, they should not feel duped. Conversation and quotes shouldnever be taken out of context for the sake of the story. Take careful care when editing and beethical ­ never re­edit a quote to change the meaning of what was said. A good rule to go by isthat if your source wouldn’t approve the change, it probably should not be used.

Sources should also be aware of how the journalistic process works. If journalists tell themabout the process/how the story is created, there will be less confusion in the long run.

Below are guidelines for creating accurate news stories:

Use objective language.

News is for facts, not opinions. While harsher language may sound better for the story, use asobjective language as possible. Be very particular with legal terms.

It should also go without saying that vulgar, profane, sexually explicit, and racist/sexist languageshould never be used in a story.

Give sources time to respond about the story.

The audience should never feel as if a source/the subject of a story doesn’t know about thestory. In order to be fair, a story should be created with ample time for a subject to respond tothe story and to share their side of the story. If this cannot be provided, then the story shouldn’trun.

15

Be fair to colleagues as well.

While ICTV copyright is to always be protected by journalists, it is important to recognizeco­workers for their efforts as well. If a colleague worked on story that is referenced or quoted ina new story, the work from the other story should be attributed to the appropriate journalist.

16

III.C. Impartiality

It is important to not let personal and professional conflicts interfere with the news. Professionalimpartiality is key, and while many journalists have active public lives, the public deservesfactual, unbiased reporting. Opinions should not influence what the public sees, hears, andlearns. As such, it is crucial that all views be treated fairly and that journalists challenge theirown perspectives with their work.

Below are guidelines for creating impartial news stories:

Don’t advocate ­ especially on­air.

Under no circumstances should a journalist advocate for a specific cause, piece of legislation, orpolitical candidate through a news story. Not only does this express a clear bias, but ICTV doesnot condone political endorsements. Endorsements call ICTV’s impartiality and independenceinto question.

Exceptions can be made for issues that directly relate to the journalistic mission. For example,advocating for the First Amendment. This should still be discussed with the News Directorbefore going public.

If you attend a march, rally, or other public event out of personal interest ­ you shouldnot be the one to report on it.

This solidifies the divide between professional work and personal interest.

Avoid “politicized” language.

Certain terms and phrases can be overused by politicians and thus it becomes politicallycharged and biased in the eyes of the public. Using it in normal conversation, in turn, showsbias. While it may not be intended, it is best to act with the utmost care in these situations, aswell as to take the time to explain to the audience what certain phrases or words have thesepolitical meanings and why they do so.

17

III.D. Completeness

A news story should always tell the complete story. While there may never be enough time orspace to say everything we would like to, a viewer should walk away knowing the issuessurrounding a subject as well as more than one side of the issue. There is always more newsthan can be reported on, so ICTV news should produce well­rounded news coverage thathighlights the most important information the public should know. If journalists find that they can’tdeliver all the answers to important questions, work to fill in the gaps while explaining to theaudience what they don’t know. The public deserves a complete picture.

Below are guidelines for creating complete news stories:

Coverage should reflect the complexity of the present world.

ICTV has multiple news programs ­ each covering a different genre and demographic. This is agood thing. It shows that ICTV recognizes many different audiences and the diversity withinTompkins County.

When creating a news story, it is imperative that this diversity be reflected. While it’s easy toreport what you are interested in, you need to ask yourself what the public needs to know.Notjust the general public, but also people from different political groups, socioeconomic, racial, andother various groups. This helps define the multiple angles for a story and provide depth to thepiece.

18

IV. Specific Instances

While the previous sections detailed values that journalists and news stories should abide by,this section contains potential circumstances that arise and how ICTV journalists should handlethem. This section of the guide is taken from the guidelines created by the Associated CollegiatePress’ Model Code of Ethics for Collegiate Journalists ­ with modifications to relate this directlyto ICTV.

Free Travel

To remain as free of influence or obligation to report a story, the journalist, in pursuit of a story,should not accept free travel, accommodations or meals related to travel. For convenience,sports reporters may travel on team charters, but the publication should pay the cost of thetransportation and related expenses. The same pay­as­you­go policy should apply to non­sportsreporting as well, including business and governments. Free travel and accommodations thatare non­coverage related and provided by a vendor may be accepted if the primary purpose isfor education or training and is related to the fulfillment of an agreement or contract.

Gifts

Gifts should not be accepted. Any gift should be returned to the sender or sent to a charity. If thegift is of no significant value (e.g. a desk trinket, small food item or pen), the staff member mayretain the gift. As a guideline, if the value is under $10, the gift may be kept. More than one gift inone year, even if under $10, from the same giver, may not be accepted. Whenever the cost ofreturning a gift exceeds its value, the gift should be turned over to the News Director who willthen dispose the gift.

This policy is not intended to prevent a staffer from accepting a cup of coffee or soft drink or aninexpensive lunch/dinner from a source, provided the staffer regularly returns such a favor. Astaffer covering a banquet or similar event may accept a free soft drink or appetizer, but shouldmake an attempt to pay for his/her meal. If the request is denied, remember to be courteous.

Free Tickets, Passes, Discounts

If money is available, staffers assigned to cover a sporting event, lecture, play, concert, movie orother entertainment event should pay for admission. Free tickets or passes may be accepted bystaff members assigned to cover an event or by those attending for legitimate news purposes,but staffers should never insist on free admission. Press facilities at these events may only beused by staff members assigned to cover the event. Free tickets or passes may be accepted bystaff members for personal use only if tickets are available on the same complimentary basis tonon­journalists.

19

Ownership of Products Given for Review

Books, recordings and other samples of inexpensive consumer products sent to the UAMstudent media for review are considered news handouts. Any materials given to the publicationfor review become the property of the publication and not of any individual staff member. Theeditor reserves the right to disperse the property in an equitable fashion. Staffers may not acceptdiscounts on merchandise unless such discounts are routinely available to the general public.

Unsolicited samples of expensive products also will be treated as news handouts and may bedisposed of at the discretion of the adviser. More expensive product samples should be returnedwith a letter explaining the newspaper pays for such products when they are subjects of stories.

Other Employment ­ Media or Otherwise

Other employment should not conflict with the staffer's first responsibility to the publication. Thestaffer must report any other employment to the editor to avoid any conflicts of interest withassignments or other staff editorial or business responsibilities or influences.

To avoid a conflict of interest, a staffer should not hold similar positions on two or more campusnews, public information or public relations media or organizations.

Approval of work for an off­campus news medium and free lance media work should be soughtin advance of the commitment. It is permissible only in a non­competitive medium, on a staffer'sown time and should not conflict with the staffer's obligations to the publication.

Online Media Work

Student journalists working with established student media may consdier starting their own blogor digital media sites to serve their campus communities or to promote themselves as aprofessional journalist. Care should be taken to keep in mind the potential consequences of theirdecision upon ICTV. ICTV content should never be presented as non­ICTV content, and workshould never interfere with that of ICTV.

Membership in Campus Organizations

Staffers may not cover a campus organization they belong to, or participate in any editorial orbusiness decisions regarding that organization. Staffers may provide story leads about theorganizations to which they belong to other staffers. Staffers should report their memberships totheir producer. To maintain the role of the press as an independent watchdog of government, astaffer should not be an elected or appointed member of student government.

Outside Activities, Including Political

20

Political involvement, holding off­campus public office and service in community organizationsshould be considered carefully to avoid compromising professional integrity and that of ICTV.The notion of the journalist as an independent observer and fact­finder is important to preserve.A staffer involved in specific political action, especially in a leadership role, should not beassigned to cover that involvement.

Relationships and Coverage

Staffers must declare conflicts and avoid involvement in stories dealing with members of theirfamilies. Staff members should not cover ­­ in words, photographs or artwork ­­ or make newsjudgments about family members or persons with whom they have a financial, adversarial, orclose sexual or platonic relationship. Intra­staff dating is not recommended if one person assignsor evaluates the work of the other person.

Use of Alcoholic Beverages While On Assignment

Even though a staffer may be able to drink legally, no or only light drinking in a social setting suchas a dinner or reception is recommended to avoid any suspicion by a source or the public thatthe staffer's judgment, credibility or objectivity is impaired by alcohol. When covering an eventwhere alcoholic beverages are served, staffers should not accept free drinks unless drinks arefree to everyone in attendance. Staffers should avoid the appearance that they are being "winedand dined" by any source or group. Any staffer caught taking drugs while working on ICTV will bereported to the Executive Staff and eligible for immediate termination.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is: (verbal) suggestive comments, sexual innuendo, threats, insults, jokesabout sex­specific traits, sexual propositions; (nonverbal) vulgar gestures, whistling, leering,suggestive or insulting noises; (physical) touching, pinching, brushing the body, coercing sexualintercourse, assault. This conduct can be called job­related harassment when submission ismade implicitly or explicitly a condition of employment, a condition of work­related assignments,compensation and other factors, or if such conduct interferes with the staffer's performance orcreates a hostile, intimidating or offensive work environment. Sexual harassment is prohibited.The first staff meeting of each publishing term should include a discussion of sexual harassmentand working conditions.

Contests and Honors

Student media outlets have a proprietary interest in the material staffers produce. Thus, theNews Director and other producers are entitled to determine which entries will represent it incontests. This will avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest that might occur if staffers wereto win or accept awards from organizations they are assigned to cover. Awards presented to the

21

staff as a whole or to the publication generally become the property of the publication. Individualswho win awards for work published in the staff publication may accept the award and retainownership of it.

22