Ethics of Editing in News Storytelling

One quote from my readings says, “Under the protections and privileges of a free press is the responsibility to be fair.” Journalists make decisions while editing news. Each decision involves value judgments. Decisions have consequences that are direct and indirect as well as deliberate and not deliberate. Moreover, journalists’ decisions affect real human beings. Those decisions can sway thousands of people’s attitudes on topics such as political problems. Just as producers and reporters are expected to be careful selecting words and facts, photojournalists and editors have to apply the same amount of ethical professionalism and accuracy in editing images and sound. Editing in news storytelling requires a level of professionalism, responsibility and a commitment to the idea of ethics.

It’s easy to think of ethics as a “given” in any media profession, something every skilled journalist knows how to do as second nature, even a brief look at the latest track record of journalism demonstrates this isn’t the circumstance. Establishments such as the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and NBC News have been victims to serious ethical scandals. Ethics is certainly not a “given,” no matter how experienced the journalist or how established the news corporation may be. Further, ethics isn’t a virtue, something one has because he/she is good-hearted and sincere. Ethical behavior requires practice, hard work and watchfulness. Television news jobs are tougher to get and more challenging for persons who do get them than ever before in today’s quickly changing media environment. These anxieties can lead to letdown and bitterness.

Journalists assess their actions on professional and personal standards. They desire to make their news...

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...wars or finish them, to arouse the heart or sadden the soul, to provide hope or demolish it. The power journalists and editors hold is unbelievable—so much so that people are constantly attempting to steal it from us or limit it. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was partially aimed to shield Americans from such attacks, but it isn’t always up to the test. It’s therefore mandatory for journalists and editors to apply this remarkable power with sympathy, responsibility, modesty, a sense of ethics, and respect for the person. Less news viewers trust that journalists and editors do that.

Television news is one of the few professions obtainable that permits journalists to have a large influence on people’s lives, for better or worse, while having more fun than regulation permits. A journalist should have fun but never lose sight of the power in his/her hands.