The Ethical Journalist
Making Responsible Decisions in the Digital Age
THIRD EDITION
GENE FOREMAN | DANIEL R. BIDDLE
EMILIE LOUNSBERRY | RICHARD G. JONES
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This third edition first published 2022
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Edition History
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Foreman, Gene, author. | Biddle, Daniel R., author. | Lounsberry, Emilie, 1954- author. | Jones, Richard G. (Richard Gordon), 1971- author.
Title: The ethical journalist : making responsible decisions in the digital age / Gene Foreman, Daniel R. Biddle, Emilie Lounsberry, Richard G. Jones.
Description: Third edition. | Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021021054 (print) | LCCN 2021021055 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119777472 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119777496 (epdf) | ISBN 9781119777489 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Journalistic ethics. | Reporters and reporting. | Journalistic ethics--Case studies. | Reporters and reporting--Case studies.
Classification: LCC PN4756 .F67 2022 (print) | LCC PN4756 (ebook) | DDC 174/.907--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021054
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021055
Cover image: © People Images/Getty Images
Cover design: Bill Marsh
Set in 10/12pt and ITC New BaskervilleStd by Integra Software Services Pvt. Ltd, Pondicherry, India
For Gene Roberts, who built The Philadelphia Inquirer on a foundation of ethics and excellence.
Contents
1 Cover
6 Foreword
7 Preface
10
Part I: A Foundation for Making Ethical Decisions
1 Why Ethics Matters in Journalism
2 Ethics: The Bedrock of a Society
3 The News Media’s Role in Society
4 For Journalists, a Clash of Moral Duties
5 The Public and the Media: Love and Hate
6 How the ‘Trump Effect’ Challenged Journalism
7 Applying Four Classic Theories of Ethics
8 Using