Ethics

Best practices in digital accuracy and corrections

Nov 16, 2011 - Posted by Lauren McKeon

In recognition of the obligations of journalists to pursue accuracy and to be accountable for their work, the Canadian Association of Journalists’ Principles for Ethical Journalism states: “When we make a mistake, we correct it promptly and ungrudgingly, and in a manner that matches the seriousness of the error.” This is not a new idea, but digital publishing raises new challenges for defining best practices in corrections. Accordingly, the Ethics Advisory Committee of the CAJ asked this panel to propose best practices in digital accuracy and corrections as a follow-up to this same committee’s 2010 work on unpublishing digital content. That earlier report asserted three key principles about unpublishing from which this work on digital accuracy and corrections builds.

CAJ Principles for Ethical Journalism

Sep 20, 2011 - Posted by Lauren McKeon

Journalists have the duty and privilege to seek and report the truth, encourage civic debate to build our communities, and serve the public interest. We vigorously defend freedom of expression and freedom of the press as guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We return society's trust by practising our craft responsibly and respecting our fellow-citizens' rights.

CAJ Ethics Guidelines

Sep 20, 2011 - Posted by Lauren McKeon

This document – along with the accompanying “Principles for Ethical Journalism” – is intended to help both seasoned professionals and new journalists to hold themselves accountable for professional work. While many specific questions are considered here, it is impossible to capture all potential scenarios in a document such as this. Instead, it seeks to provide examples of the application of our general ethical principles, and to help journalists apply those principles and their best judgment when faced with scenarios not covered here. Updates will be issued periodically as new issues come under consideration by the association’s Ethics Advisory Committee; suggestions for additions or amendments should be directed to the committee chair.

A guide, not a cop: the CAJ's new ethics "code" (and why it's not called that)

Sep 20, 2011 - Posted by Lauren McKeon

The Canadian Association of Journalists has released a new Statement of Principles and revised its Ethical Guidelines. So why is the chair of the CAJ ethics committee, Ivor Shapiro, worried?

CAJ panel proposes ethics guidelines for digital age

May 10, 2011 - Posted by Ivor Shapiro

The 2002-vintage ethics code of the Canadian Association of Journalists is certainly due for a revision—for one thing, it makes no mention of the Internet. Now, a panel of the association’s ethics committee has produced a draft revision for public comment. Panel chair Shauna Snow-Capparelli explains.

"Aim for transparency": CAJ releases guidelines for personal activity online

Apr 19, 2011 - Posted by Lauren McKeon

Where is the line between the personal and the professional when journalists interact with social media? In its latest report, released April 12, the Canadian Association of Journalists' ethics advisory committee presents guidelines to help journalists think through their Facebook profiles, their "following" choices, and what to "like" and "not like" online. Reporters should build "a social media profile that is both personable and professional" by trying to stay impartial on public issues, being transparent about identity and intentions, and monitoring digital associates with care. The report, was authored by University of King's College professor Tim Currie (chair), media lawyer Burt Bruser and Windsor Star business/news editor Ellen van Wageningen.

Journalists seeking public office: what are the ethical issues?

Nov 30, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Is running for political office a career-ending move for journalists? Do news organizations have a right to prohibit employees' involvement in the democratic process? Does it all depend on the journalist's job or beat? It’s a complex series of questions whose answers are shaded in greys, says a new ethics paper written by Ken Regan, Ivor Shapiro and Scott White and released November 22 by the Canadian Association of Journalists.

The panel's report is the second of two papers from the CAJ's ethics advisory committee to be published in as many weeks. The first explored the ethics of unpublishing online content.

Have your say in the new CAJ guidelines

Nov 24, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

The Canadian Association of Journalists has begun work to reformat and update the organization's Statement of Principles and Ethical Guidelines -- and it wants your input.

The ethics of unpublishing

Nov 16, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

A report by the ethics advisory committee of the Canadian Association of Journalists offers guidelines for "unpublishing" online content. Among the panel's recommended best practices: news media should "generally not agree to requests to unpublish content, but inaccuracies should be corrected in a way that's transparent to audiences. "In the rare cases when an article is removed completely from the website," the panel advises that a "note should be added to the URL to acknowledge that the article has been removed." The report was the work of a panel consisting off Kathy English (chair), Tim Currie and Rod Link.

Here's the full report.

Guidelines for re-posting stories

Aug 23, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Should you factcheck a Twitter post before you re-tweet? Should you verify that every Facebook post is correct before you pass it on to your friends and followers? The CAJ Ethics Committee has created guidelines for sharing stories via social media...

CAJ Ethics Committee

CAJ This is the Web space of the ethics advisory committee of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ). The committee was formed to consider and provide advice on ethical issues faced by journalists through the course of regular work. Members are appointed by the CAJ’s national board of directors and its chair is appointed by the board from among the committee members. Ivor Shapiro, the committee's chair, is also ethics editor of J-Source and teaches journalism ethics and feature reporting at Ryerson University. To contribute, please comment on any article or contact the editor.