The ethical principle of truth refers to the facts that are real and verified or accepted as the truth. It does not include someone’s perception of the truth. Journalists are responsible for providing truthful and comprehensive accounts of the subjects they report on. Failure to adhere to this principle can lead to misinformation, loss of credibility, and legal consequences.
Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel wrote that a journalist should check the facts and verify the information:1 “The essence of journalism is the discipline of verification. Ultimately, the verification discipline separates journalism from entertainment, propaganda, fiction, or art. Entertainment – or its cousin ‘infotainment’ – focuses on what is most diverting. Propaganda selects facts or invents them to serve the real purpose: persuasion or manipulation.”
They made it clear that fact-checking and verification are essential editorial techniques in journalism that should be at the top of an ethical reporter’s list. Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, fact-checking is the process ethical reporters use to verify their information is accurate, factual, and unbiased.
Fact-checking entails that the reporter should (a) explain the context and the background information in which the claim was made, (b) check facts and statements, and (c) determine the informant’s motives beforehand. Going through these easy steps before publishing can save the reporter and news outlet much trouble, shame, and money.
1 The Elements of Journalism, Revised and Updated 4th Edition, Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, 2021.
THE CASE OF KWASIZABANTU MISSION – THE NEWS24 REPORTAGE
News24 used untested information provided to them by discredited informants and weaponised it to tarnish the mission’s image and the founder’s reputation. The consequences of such unethical journalism can be severe, as it can destroy a mission’s reputation and personal attacks on its founder. The investigative magazine, Noseweek, exposed a malicious plot, driven by opportunistic family members to take over the mission for their lucrative businesses and to close the mission station. Noseweek also suggested that the editor-in-chief of News24 had an agenda with his ongoing media onslaught on KwaSizabantu.
FOR THE FULL ARTICLE AND MORE, READ THE MEDIA ETHICS COLUMN IN DEVOTED FROM , ISSUE 38 AND ONWARDS
Source: The Elements of Journalism, Revised and Updated 4th Edition, Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, 2021.
