Post on 15-Aug-2015
CHAPTER 10:
CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST • Define conflict of interest and
apparent conflict of interest.
• Describe the impact on credibility of
a conflict of interest.
• Avoid conflicts of interest in four
common areas.
Who is
AUDIENCE
DEFINITION: Conflict of interest
Self No. 1
Audience not No. 1
A journalist’s self-interest or loyalty to another
person or organization takes precedence over his
or her loyalty to the audience.
ARE THESE CONFLICTS?
•Writing a story about an election and
excluding candidates you don’t like?
•Writing a flattering story about an
advertiser because he said he would
buy an ad if you did such a story?
•Accepting a free week’s stay at a hotel
and then writing a flattering travel
article on the hotel?
DEFINITION: Apparent conflict of interest Something a journalist does – or says publicly –
that causes the audience to perceive a conflict of
interest or bias, even though the journalist’s
reporting is fair.
ARE THESE APPARENT CONFLICTS?
•Marching in a rally for a political
cause
•Wearing a Yangon Lions shirt to
cover its football game
•Expressing support for a political
candidate on your Facebook page
•Appearing on a public affairs TV
program and criticizing a candidate
DO JOURNALISTS HAVE OPINIONS?
• Exiled from
his country
for 24 years.
• Returned in
January 2012
as founder
and editor-in-
chief of
Screen grab from Democratic Voice of Burma video
DO JOURNALISTS HAVE OPINIONS?
• Imprisoned for 2 ½
years of a 27-year
sentence
• Released in January
2012 and went back
to being a VJ for
HLA HLA WIN
DO JOURNALISTS HAVE OPINIONS? Jan. 11, 2014
“Many of the country’s most widely read
print media have open connections to the
military establishment.”
• The 7 Days Journal
• The Hot News Journal
• The Messenger Journal
• The Voice Journal
• The Popular Journal
DO JOURNALISTS HAVE OPINIONS?
Jan. 11, 2014
“The same is true for the broadcast media.
A large number of FM radio stations are
owned by military associates….
“Satellite television service Sky Net…is
operated by Shwe Than Lwin Co. Ltd.,
which is owned by military associate Kyaw
Win.
DO JOURNALISTS HAVE OPINIONS?
Jan. 11, 2014
EARLY U.S. PRESS PARTISAN
The Los
Angeles
Times
celebrates an
election
victory by the
Republican
Party in 1896.
HOW TO DEAL WITH OPINIONS B
y P
ete
r R
ob
ert
s
1. Filter opinions out of the reporting.
HOW TO DEAL WITH OPINIONS
2. Take no public positions on issues.
By www.audio-luci-store.it
WHY NOT JUST DISCLOSE OPINIONS?
By Danny Molyneux
Referee: “I’m
going to call
this game
fairly, but the
Yangon team is
obviously
better.”
WHY NOT JUST DISCLOSE OPINIONS?
By Danny Molyneux
Referee: “Yes, I
did give that
tough call to
Yangon, but I’m
not biased.”
“Yeah,
right.”
BENEFIT OF BALANCE •Reporting all sides of a subject
without favoring one over another
By v
aX
zin
e
DEFINITION: Disclosure Informing the audience of something that might be
perceived as a conflict of interest. A disclosure may be
warranted if the conflict is unavoidable or insignificant.
EDITOR’S
NOTE: Serge
Pun is an
investor in
Mizzima Media
Group.
June 18, 2015
This is
businessman
Serge Pun.
4 COMMON AREAS
FOR CONFLICTS 1. Gifts and outside income
2. Public positions on issues
3. Civic activities
4. Relationships with sources
1. NO GIFTS FROM SOURCES • “They should not allow themselves to be
influenced by any person through an offer of
payment, gift or other advantage.”
– Myanmar Media Code of Conduct
• “Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special
treatment.” – SPJ Code of Ethics
• “Staff members may not accept gifts, tickets,
discounts…Exceptions may be made for trinkets
of nominal value, say $25 or less, such as a mug
or a cap with a company logo.”
– The New York Times handbook
WHAT ABOUT MEALS?
“In some business situations and in some cultures, it may be unavoidable to accept a meal or a drink paid for by a news source. Whenever practical, however, the reporter should suggest dining where The Times can pay.”
– The New York Times handbook
By Gareth Williams
1. OUTSIDE INCOME Is it okay for:
• An education reporter to work as a freelance
public relations consultant for the school
district.
• A technology reporter to accept a speaking fee
from Microsoft to address its executive retreat.
• A business columnist to accept a speaking
free for talking to a conference of stock
brokers about getting better coverage.
• A journalist to accept a speaking fee for giving
the graduation speech at a university that she
does not cover.
FACEBOOK IS PRIVATE TRUE OR FALSE?
EMAIL IS PRIVATE TRUE OR FALSE?
2. TAKING A PUBLIC POSITION
Do not “say anything on radio, television
or the Internet that could not appear
under his or her byline in The Times.”
– The New York Times handbook
Is it okay for:
• An editor to email a reader that the
editor does not plan to vote for a
particular candidate.
• A reporter to use the rainbow filter on
her Facebook profile photo indicating
support of same-sex marriage.
• Cheers to break out in the newsroom
when a difficult government minister
resigns.
• A political reporter to appear on a radio
talk show and slam a candidate.
2. TAKING A PUBLIC POSITION
•“Journalists should not
cover or make news
decisions about
organizations in which they
are members.”
•They should avoid
situations that could result
in news coverage.
--The Ethical Journalist
3. CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Is it okay for:
• A reporter to head a church committee
campaigning against a new casino.
• An editor to produce the newsletter for his
child’s elementary school.
• A journalist, who coaches his son’s football
team, to ask a source to donate money for
team uniforms.
• A journalist to lead a parents’ group in support
of a children’s choir.
3. CIVIC ACTIVITIES
10-question template: page 113
Step 1: Gather Facts Question 1:
What do I know? What do I need to
know?
10-question template
Photo by sskennel
Step 1: Gather Facts Question 2:
What is my journalistic purpose?
10-question template
By M
M
Step 1: Gather Facts Question 3:
What are my ethical concerns?
10-question template
Is It an Ethical Dilemma? Definition:
conflict in ethical values:
• Telling the truth.
• Keeping your promise.
• Respecting privacy.
• Being fair.
• Minimizing harm.
• Avoiding conflicts of interest.
10-question template
By david pacey
Is It a False Ethical Dilemma? Definition:
conflict between ethical and nonethical values (wealth, status, happiness):
-Beating the competition
-Raising ratings
-Increasing traffic
-Selling newspapers
10-question template
False Ethical Dilemma
10-question template
•“It is essential that we preserve a
professional detachment, free of
any whiff of bias.
•“Staff members may see sources
informally over a meal or drinks,
but they must keep in mind the
difference between legitimate
business and personal friendship.”
--The New York Times handbook
4. SOURCE RELATIONSHIPS
“The acid test of
freedom from
favoritism is the
ability to maintain
good working
relationships with all
parties to a
dispute.”
--The New York
Times handbook
4. SOURCE RELATIONSHIPS
Is it okay for:
• A City Hall reporter to date the mayor.
• A political reporter to play golf most weekends
with top NLD party officials.
• A Naypyidaw reporter to play mahjongg most
Monday nights with government officials.
• A business reporter to be found at most home
football games in the corporate box of a
company he covers.
• A journalist to borrow money from a source.
4. SOURCE RELATIONSHIPS
CASE STUDY: SON IN ISRAELI ARMY • 1980s: Ethan Bronner began
reporting from the Middle East.
• 2008: Bronner became The New
York Times Jerusalem bureau
chief. His reporting is fair.
• December 2009: Bronner tells his
editors -- as required by the Times’
ethics handbook -- that his 20-
year-old son has enlisted in the
Israeli army.
• January 2010: Palestine’s
Electronic Intifada website says
Bronner has a “conflict of interest.”
CASE STUDY: SON IN ISRAELI ARMY
Is this a real or apparent conflict of interest?
DEFINITION: Conflict of interest
Self No. 1
Audience not No. 1
A journalist’s self-interest or loyalty to another
person or organization takes precedence over his
or her loyalty to the audience.
DEFINITION: Apparent conflict of interest Something a journalist does – or says publicly –
that causes the audience to perceive a conflict of
interest or bias, even though the journalist’s
reporting is fair.
CASE STUDY: SON IN ISRAELI ARMY
By k
ell
yw
rite
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ou
se
• Feb. 6, 2010: New York Times
Public Editor Clark Hoyt
investigates and writes a column
saying Bronner should be
reassigned while his son is in the
Israeli army.
• Feb. 6, 2010: New York Times
Executive Editor Bill Keller
explains in a column why he will
not reassign Bronner.
• Feb. 12, 2010: Keller explains his
thinking in this radio interview.
Sc
ree
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rab
fro
m C
-SP
AN
CLARK HOYT
BILL KELLER
CASE STUDY: SON IN ISRAELI ARMY
Use the 10-question template to
recommend whether:
1. Executive Editor Bill Keller
should reconsider his decision
and reassign Jerusalem
reporter Ethan Bronner.
2. Keller should have disclosed
the apparent conflict when
Bronner first told him about it in
December.
By k
ell
yw
rite
rsh
ou
se
BILL KELLER
DISCLOSURE: Informing the audience of something that
might be perceived as a conflict of interest. A disclosure may
be warranted if the conflict is unavoidable or insignificant.
10-question template: page 113
What’s in the memo? Write a memo of four sections:
1. Background of the case (the facts)
2. The ethical theories and processes you used
3. Alternatives with pros and cons
4. Recommended action
WHEN IS IT DUE? Beginning of class
AUG. 3