Ethics in journalism

Journalism ethics is a set of moral and ethical principles in journalism that guide the work of journalists to ensure responsible, honest and fair coverage. This helps maintain the credibility of the press and protect the rights of both the public and the persons covered. The journalism ethics course provides a comprehensive overview of the moral and ethical principles that guide the work of journalists and help ensure responsible and reliable journalism. The aim of the course is to develop an understanding of the ethical dilemmas that journalists face on a daily basis and to provide the skills and knowledge to resolve them. Journalism ethics is not just a set of rules, but a deeper discussion about the journalist's role in society, responsibility to the public, and finding a balance between freedom of expression and social well-being.

Greete Lehepuu

I am a journalist and webmaster at Eesti Ekspress, which is a publication of Estonian investigative journalism. My writing topics range from social issues to science and crime. Although I have also worked in radio and television, my main focus for the past ten years has been digital media. I have both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in journalism, and I have been a member of the board of the Estonian Association of Young Journalists. In 2021, I received the Estonian Young Journalist of the Year award.

Grete Lehepuu

Photo: Anu Hammer

Additional reading material

  1. The Importance of Ethics in Journalism | St. Bonaventure University Online
  2. Journalistic Ethics | Journalism in the Digital Age
  3. What Is Ethics in Journalism? Learn About Journalism Ethics With Tips from Legendary Journalist Bob Woodward - 2024 - MasterClass

 

Practical exercises

Downloadable files: 

  1. Thinking about the Journalism code of ethics
  2. Here are some dilemmas to analyse - what would you do in that kind of situation? Journalism dilemma problems to solve
  3. Questions to analyse yourself as a journalist: Self analysis