The Code of Ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists provides recommended guidelines for journalists to exercise their profession, for providing the information value to the society in which they develop their activity. Looking at the Libertarian and Authoritarian Theories of Press, the analyzed Code of Ethics is more closely related to the Libertarian Theory, having more aspects in common and more relevance for the practitioners of this theory.
The Code of Ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists serves the democracy, which recognizes the power of the people. Hence, this principle is related to the Libertarian theory and it opposes the Authoritarian theory, which holds that the power over information should be in the hands of the government, of the authority (Siebert, 1984). The Libertarian theory is formed on the belief that humans are reasoning individuals, able to absorb, to select and to interpret information from accurate news presented to them, with the condition that press should enjoy the liberty of speech (Siebert, 1984). In this sense, the examined Code of Ethics relates with this theory, as it guides its practitioners to “seek the truth and report it” (“Code of Ethics Society of Professional Journalists”). According to the Authoritarian Theory, journalists were not encourage to seek the truth, but to report the information provided by the authorities, as authorities demand. Moreover, the freedom of speech refers not only to the journalists’ rights to say and transmit the messages they want to the public, but also to their obligation to respect others’ opinions and views, even if their personal values contradict those views (Siebert, 1984). The Code of Ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists provides that journalists should support the open exchange, even if their views are contradictory. Similarly, this Code of Ethics notes that journalists should abide from offering personal opinions, or putting the information in the light of their own cultural values, as they might influence others to absorb their values. Like this, they would institute the manipulation, which is a principle contradictory to the Libertarian Theory, but specific, at times, to the Authoritarian Theory.
Presenting the truth, by investigating pluralist approaches to the investigated issues is another principle of the Libertarian Theory (Karthick, “What are the Four Theories of the Press?”). In relation to this principle, the examined Code of Ethics states that the tory should be told as it is, even if it may cause unpopular reactions. The Code of Ethics also indicates that subjects accused by wrongdoings should be sought and given the opportunity to respond or to defend themselves from the allegations (“Code of Ethics Society of Professional Journalists”).
Siebert (1984) also states that in the countries with a libertarian press model, journalists must act independently, with accountability and being fully responsible of their actions. Similarly, the analyzed Code of Ethics holds that journalists who abide it should act independently of favors or gifts, should be accountable of what and how they publish and should respect their audiences. Respecting the audience means being sensitive and showing compassion and avoiding harming people through journalistic investigations and other practices. “(Code of Ethics Society of Professional Journalists”).
The examined Code of Ethics is important for the practitioners of both the Authoritarian and the Libertarian Theories. The practitioners of the Libertarian Theory have the opportunity to exercise these ethical principles and they should investigate their conduct and compare it to the principles enlisted in the Code of Ethics. On the other hand, the practitioners of the Authoritarian Theory should aspire towards exercising the principles of the Libertarian Theory. Being guided by authoritarian rules that apply to the journalistic profession in the authoritarian countries, journalists should, nevertheless, absorb the Libertarian principles, such as the liberty of the press, freedom of speech or the humans’ right to have access to accurate and tested information.
Nevertheless, the analyzed Code of Ethics is more important for the practitioners of the Libertarian Theory, because they work in a libertarian system and have to know the libertarian values and principles, in order to properly perform their duties in an ethical manner. Moreover, the practitioners of the Libertarian theory need to know the philosophy of the libertarian press, for respecting people and treating them with responsibility, accountability and kindness, avoiding harming them through the way they perform their duties. Working in an environment where the other journalists are respecting the Code of Ethics, disrespecting the ethical principles of the Libertarian Theory would generate tensions between colleagues and the one disrespecting the code of ethics might even be isolated or excluded from the journalistic branch. An unethical conduct, violating the principles of the Libertarian Theory would affect the accuracy of the news provided and the journalist will be likely to misinform or mislead the audiences. Like this, the Libertarian principle of presenting accurate information and allowing the public to form is own opinion would be violated or compromised.
The examined Code of Ethics is more similar to the Libertarian Theory, serving a Libertarian society, wherein principles such as liberty of press, freedom of speech and expression, humans’ rights to be informed and to reason prevail. The principles of the Code of Ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists are more important for the practitioners of the Libertarian Theory, who need to comply with an ethical guideline for ethically serving the society.
References
Karthik, P. What are the four theories of the press? Retrieved from http://www.preservearticles.com/what-are-the-the-four-theories-of-the-press.html.
Siebert, S. (1984) Four theories of the press. Illinois: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
