The Society of Professional Journalists approved a new Code of Ethics at the Excellence in Journalism 2014 convention in Nashville Saturday afternoon.
SPJ’s code of ethics attempts to speak to all media, and all who consider themselves to be journalists:
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that democracy, a just society and good government require an informed public. Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity.
The Society declares these four principles as the foundation of ethical journalism and encourages their use in its practice by all people in all media.
The newly approved code attempts to address using anonymous sources in stories:
Read moreIdentify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.
Question sources’ motives before promising anonymity, reserving it for those who may face danger, retribution or other harm.
