The U.S. Constitution gives journalists crucial freedoms and responsibilities. Here is their code of ethics according to the Society of Professional Journalists.
- Seek Truth and Report It
- Minimize Harm
- Act Independently
- Be Accountable and Transparent
Journalists are not fulfilling their responsibilities and obligations to America. Their code of ethics states that their number one responsibility is to report the truth. I believe that extends to “not” providing airtime or print space to known liars like Donald Trump. If a journalist does so, they are violating their professional ethics and personal integrity. Gaining audience share and profits is not an acceptable reason or excuse.
Ethics and profits can coexist. But not without rules, standards, and boundaries. A news organization that does both successfully gains extraordinary public trust and industry respect. Without principles, a news company is filled with conspiracy theorists, not journalists. They are just profit chasers, not truth seekers.
Extreme right news organizations like Fox News, News Max, and all equivalents that demonstrate zero ethics and a singular focus on profits will eventually drown in their cesspool of lies. Those in the public domain who seek out such garbage will suffer their own unpleasant reckoning.
Now more than ever, America needs journalists and news organizations to take a firm stand on the truth and do their job in protecting our democracy.