Ultimate Quiz On Journalism Ethics

1. You just finished an interview with a new source and then received an email saying that the source has tried to add you as a friend on Facebook. You:

Accept. Your publication has no right telling you whom you can be friends with.

Decline. You explain to the source that such a friendship could create the perception of bias.

Explanation

Ultimate Quiz On Journalism Ethics - Quiz

Don't let the fact that this is a quiz fool you -- ethics are not about being correct or incorrect -- they are about understanding beliefs and values.... see moreWhat we've assembled here are ethical dilemmas that high school journalists might face, with explanations about the generally accepted answers shared by some leaders in scholastic media education. But all of the scenarios here have gray areas, where your answer might change if you had more information, or if the situation were just slightly different.
That is the most important aspect of journalism ethics. It's not enough to know right or wrong; it's more pertinent that you buy into the rationale journalists use when making tough decisions. So think long and hard before making a choice on each of these questions. Consider all of the "what if" variables that might change your answer. And never feel as though you have to make ethical decisions in a vacuum -- involve other members of your staff, as well as your teacher, when talking about ethics. That discussion is probably the most valuable way to develop your own ethical beliefs. see less

2. You are preparing to do a restaurant review of a new establishment in town. You:

Explanation

3. An advertiser has approached your advertising staff about running an ad on the front page of the newspaper, and as the final authority on all content in the paper, the decision falls to you as editor-in-chief. You:

Deny it. The front page of the newspaper should be reserved for editorial content alone.

Explanation

4. A source tells you that she has pertinent information about an ongoing scandal at your school, but she wants to go "off the record" before she tells you details. You:

Decline the information. “Off the record” talk usually brings with it all sorts of legal problems.

Explanation

5. While trying to transcribe the audio from an interview with a source, you accidentally erase your recording. You call your source to schedule another interview, but she says that she won't have time before your deadline and that you should, "Just use quotes from your memory." You indeed have a good memory of the interview, so you:

Leave the source out of your story.

Explanation

6. You are a new member of your high school newspaper and have been instructed to clean up your Facebook profile to avoid the appearance of biases. One of the topics on your profile lists you as a catholic. You:

Take the listing down. The newspaper often reports on religious issues and your affiliation could jeopardize its neutrality.

Explanation

7. You are taking pictures of a rally near your high school with a large police presence. The protest turns violent, however, and protesters begin throwing rocks at police officers. One of the officers approaches you asking for your camera so that authorities can begin investigating who started the riot. You:

Refuse. The newspaper is not an arm of the government, and it is not your job to help law enforcement.

Explanation

8. After an interview with a representative from student council, your source starts panicking because he realizes that all student council communications are supposed to go through the organization's public relations liaison. You:

Explanation

9. You need a photograph of a senior you are profiling in the newspaper, and you notice that he has his professionally shot senior photographs posted on his Facebook page. You:

Ask the student for permission and, if granted, use the photo in your publication.

Avoid using the photograph.

Explanation