This document discusses the differences between law and ethics in journalism. It notes that law is governed by statutes and courts and involves external controls and sanctions from the government. Ethics, on the other hand, are governed by professional codes and involve internal controls and sanctions from media organizations. The document provides examples of legal issues like libel, invasion of privacy, and open records laws that journalists must consider, as well as hypothetical scenarios involving reporting that raise questions about what is legal versus ethical.

1. ETHICS AND LAW IN
ELECTRONIC REPORTING
JCM 331-001
FALL 2018

2. LAW & ETHICS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
•Governed by statutes and courts
•Externally controlled (outside of the media)
•Sanctions, penalties are imposed from the government
Law – rights, responsibilities and prohibitions based on what’s legal
•Governed by professional codes of ethics (i.e. SPJ, RTDNA, NPPA)
•Internally controlled (within the journalism profession)
•Sanctions, penalties imposed from media organizations
Ethics – doing the right thing (knowing right from wrong)
People often threaten to sue (in court) over ethical issues – what’s legal an what’s ethical are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS

3. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS ARTWORK
IN REESE PHIFER HALL ROTUNDA?
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise, thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assembe, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
What Freedom of Speech is and is not:

4. FROM YOUR HANDOUT-
LEGAL ISSUES FOR REPORTERS
• Contempt of Court
• Trespassing
• Sedition
• Libel
• Invasion of Privacy
• Breach of Contract
• Access: Open Meetings (Alabama’s Open Meetings Law) that “the deliberative process of
governmental bodies shall be open to the public during meetings”
• Access: Open Courtrooms
• Access: Open Records (i.e. Freedom of Information Act- FOIA)

6. IS IT LEGAL OR ETHICAL?
• According to one radio news director, the station is standing by its story, even
though the state’s senior U.S. Senator is accusing the station of slander in its
reporting on his alleged extra-marital affair. The senator has retained an attorney
who plans to file a lawsuit against the station.

7. IS IT LEGAL OR ETHICAL?
• A videographer from WTVE-TV used slow motion video on a criminal suspect,
which some alleged made the suspect look guilty.

8. IS IT LEGAL OR ETHICAL?
• The WVUA-23 City Hall Reporter finds out that the majority of the Northport City
Council members held dinner at the City Council President’s house and discussed
allegations of wrongdoing by the a city employee. The Council President agrees
to come on his show for an ”exclusive” interview to discuss what happened at the
dinner where no members of the media were present.

9. IS IT LEGAL OR ETHICAL?
• A student intern for a cable network is given exclusive backstage access during a
political rally for a candidate. The backstage access includes an opportunity to
interview some of the candidates. After one of the interviews, the candidate ask
the intern if she’d like to come work for him as a part of his press team. The
conversation results in a verbal agreement for a job after she graduates. The
intern wonders if she should tell the news director about this verbal agreement.

10. IS IT LEGAL OR ETHICAL?
• Jackson is a sports reporter at a golf tournament, which his station is sponsoring,
given him exclusive, pretournament access to big-name golfers. Jackson
interviews a big-name football coach who reveals he’s stepping down at the end
of the season. Should the video be shared with other stations?