Blog 22: Answer #3

• Essential Question: What is most important to success in journalism?
• Answer 3: One of the most important factors to success in journalism is the ability to be independent and transparent. 
• Some components of my answer include: 
• Journalistic independence can be damaged by accepting free gifts of any kinds.
• Avoid conflicts of interest.
• Always identify yourself as a journalist when on assignment.
• Any scene dramatized should be clearly stated. 
• Evidence:
• Example 1: While reading The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach & Rob Rosensteil, I came across a section that discussed the purpose of journalism, to provide information for the public, so they can make decisions and self-govern. In order to fulfill this and thus, be successful in journalism, remaining independent and neutral.
• Example 2: According to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, one of the cornerstones is to Be Accountable, which is broken down into avoiding any contact/ties with outside sources or publications. An example of this would be to be receiving outside gifts or compensation from a company or publication to publish/report a story that will be waived in said company/publications favor for whatever reason. This, as explained in the Code of Ethics, leads to lack of accountability to the bribed journalist.
• Example 3: While speaking with my service learning mentor, she spoke to me about what journalists' job is. She said journalists are responsible for "being the voice to the voiceless". In order to do that, she said, they must do they toughest thing, be neutral. She gave me an ethical case study known as the picture with the vulture in Africa. The photojournalist there was covering a story there and took a photo of a malnourished African toddler who had collapsed while a vulture looked on and was about to hunt. The photo was legendary and sparked huge controversy in the journalism world. Although being neutral is ethical, many discuss the extent of it. 
• Source:
• The Elements of Journalism by Bob Kovach & Rob Rosensteil
• Personal Interview with Cecily Arambula, EIC of Poly Post
• Concordia University Code of Ethics