Ethical Code of the Society of Professional Journalists

Ethics Hotline

"To help SPJ members and other journalists “do ethics” and become adept at applying the Society's new code, SPJ has set up an Ethics Hotline. The Hotline is monitored by members of the national Ethics Committee and veteran journalists who have had a great deal of experience in ethical decision-making.

Struggling with a dilemma on deadline, or just want to talk about a tough call you've had to make?

Telephone: (765) 653-2070, Ext. 208

• Fair trial vs. the right to know
  Should newspapers publish confidential defense documents a month before the trial of Timothy McVeigh or will it deny the defendant a fair trial?
• The right to march in parades
  Does a reporter have the right to participate in the Million Man March or does participation compromise his objectivity?
• Breach of confidentiality
  What should a newspaper do with confidential computer tape that contains the names of all HIV-positive people in the state of Florida?

The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics

encouraging interdisciplinary scholarship and teaching in practical and professional ethics--includes several ethics-related links
410 North Park Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Phone: (812) 855-6450
Fax: (812) 855-3315
E-Mail: APPE@INDIANA.EDU

SPJ-Ethics Listserv

SPJ-Ethics is SPJ's mail list established solely for the discussion of journalism ethics. You can subscribe by sending a message to majordomo@dworkin.wustl.edu and in the body of the message type:subscribe spj-ethics.