Desperation Versus Innovation: Measuring

Ethical Climate in Evolving Newsrooms

By Jennifer Brannock CoxUniversity of Florida

Introduction

• Traditional newspapers are changing• 11 newspapers closed in 2009• 8 newspapers adopted online-only

format• Almost 15,000 newspaper jobs lost

• Journalists regard ethics as being fundamental

• Are changes affecting perspectives on ethics (ethical climates)?

Source: www.delawareonline.com

Study Variables – Types of News Organization

• “Traditional Newspapers” • Those with a print & online

product• Traditional reporters are

stressed, over-worked

• “Online-Only Newspapers”• Both start-ups & print-to-online

transitions• Same folks; different training• New sense of optimism

Source: http://blog.searchenginewatch.com

Study Variables –Ethical Climate

• Born out of “organizational climate” and “business ethics” studies

• Primarily used to characterize employees’ views of ethical practices in their organization

• Ethical climate highly linked to job satisfaction (Elçi & Alpkan, 2008)

• Ethical climate best affected when journalists are involved in writing of ethical codes (Battistoli, 2008)

Research Questions

RQ1: Have traditional print journalists and editors noticed changes in ethical climate since the adoption of an online product? If so, what are they?

RQ2: How are the ethical practices of those in the newsroom viewed by traditional and online-only journalists and editors?

RQ3: Does the conveyance of ethical policies affect ethical climate in traditional and online-only newsrooms?

RQ4: Does ethical climate differ in traditional newsrooms versus online-only newsrooms?

Method

• 10 reporters & editors

• 2 “large” traditional organizations; 2 online-only organizations

• In-depth interviews loosely based on Victor and Cullen’s (1988) ethical climate categories• Caring, law and code, communication, conflicts of

interest and online practices

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ1: Have traditional print journalists and editors noticed changes in ethical climate since the adoption of an online product? If so, what are they?

• Advertising conflicts of interest• Brick wall is weakening in both• Some advertising content creeping into

product• More advertising involvement in editorial

process

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ1: Have traditional print journalists and editors noticed changes in ethical climate since the adoption of an online product? If so, what are they?

• Accuracy• Both agree accuracy sometimes sacrificed for

speed• Fewer editors overseeing copy

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ1: Have traditional print journalists and editors noticed changes in ethical climate since the adoption of an online product? If so, what are they?

• Content• More salacious material given higher

prominence• “The standards are different.”

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ2: How are the ethical practices of those in the newsroom viewed by traditional and online-only journalists and editors?

RQ3: Does the conveyance of ethical policies affect ethical climate in traditional and online-only newsrooms?

• Communication and ethics• Both – adhere to “traditional newspaper ethics”• Online – no written policies; Traditional – more defined• Online – understood & reactionary; Traditional – e-mail,

contracts

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ2: How are the ethical practices of those in the newsroom viewed by traditional and online-only journalists and editors?

RQ3: Does the conveyance of ethical policies affect ethical climate in traditional and online-only newsrooms?

• Online vs. traditional attitudes • Traditional – unmoving; rules are rules• Online – excited about developing “as we go”• Confusion at times over violation penalties

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ4: Does ethical climate differ in traditional newsrooms versus online-only newsrooms?

• Caring & Law and Code• Traditional vs. online: many imagined

differences• Traditional: outdated• Online: unethical and less committed to

accuracy

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ4: Does ethical climate differ in traditional newsrooms versus online-only newsrooms?

• Conflicts of interest – advertising• Traditional – upset but quiet• Online – optimistic about involving process

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ4: Does ethical climate differ in traditional newsrooms versus online-only newsrooms?

• Online practices – Accuracy • Traditional – less editing, troubling• Online – mistakes are easily corrected• Online – feel more of a burden for accuracy

due to lack of oversight

Findings – Emerging Themes

RQ4: Does ethical climate differ in traditional newsrooms versus online-only newsrooms?

• Online practices – Content• Traditional – filling the page• Online – contributing to archived legacy

Discussion

• Desperation vs. Innovation

• Sacrifices vs. Modifications

• Lack of communication regarding policies – could lead to trouble

• Limitations:• Small sample• Further quantifiable work needed• Working to better define

organizational categories

Questions?