WLOSer Larry Blunt, on news and ethics

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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WLOSer Larry Blunt recently blogged about a talk he gave recently regarding the media and technology’s impact on ethics:

“The media isn’t just made of media professionals anymore (someone who is trained and earns a living in media). Any and everyone now has the chance to be “the media” through blogging, twittering, emailing and texting and sending pictures and video from cell phone cameras. There are exciting possibilities. But as with most good things, there is a ‘dark’ side that needs to be considered. “Dark” may be a bit dramatic. Let me use the word ‘concerning’. The medium of online and iphone communication raises ethical questions that need to be considered. The implications of right to privacy and the difference between what is “news” and what is commentary are in question, and the lines between them blurred. The fact that these blogs can be written anonymously creates a lack of accountability. The cornerstone of Professional Journalistic Ethics as listed by the Society of Professional Journalists, are; Seek Truth, Be Independent, Be accountable, Minimize Harm. I think these are great ethical principals to live by, no matter what line of work you’re in. We all value freedom of speech and expression. But we as people should not allow that freedom to excuse anyone from being any less accountable, less truthful or less apt to minimize harm with the words they use in the media, whether it is a Professional Journalist or Citizen Journalist who write them.