Create your own “Code of Ethics” Activity with Scenarios
Directions: In your pre-assigned groups, you are to go through each of the tasks together. You
may use one piece of paper for the group. Use as many sheets of paper as you need; staple the
packet of tasks together (with group names on the front) and turn in! READ ALL DIRECTIONS
thoroughly. All handouts that you will need are attached to this handout.
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In Task One, you are going to compare/contrast two codes of ethics from the news
organization of your choice. After choose two ethical codes, print them and create the
graphic organizer attached.
In Task Two, you are going to discuss a few statements on journalist codes of ethics.
In Task Three, you are going to create your own code of ethics
In Task Four, you are going to use your newly create code of ethics to analyze/evaluate
various scenarios. You are going to record how your publication (using your own code
of ethics) would deal with the scenario, using examples from your code of ethics.
Task One- Compare/Contrast Ethical Codes of News Organizations
The first step of this project is to look at actual codes of ethics from actual news organizations. In
your group, you will complete a graphic organizer comparing and contrasting the content of
different media organizations’ ethical codes. Each group will choose TWO from this website:
www.journalism.org/resources/ethics_code (If the website is not cooperating, you can just
Google news organizations’ ethical codes for journalism). PRINT each ethical code if possible,
and attach to the graphic organizer.
The graphic organizer is attached to this sheet of directions (labeled: “Task One:
Compare/Contrast News Organizations’’ Ethical Codes”)
Task Two - Freedom of the Press
In your group, consider the statements below and respond to each question. Be sure you are
answering in COMPLETE sentences! Each of the statements below is a key idea that underlies
journalistic codes of ethics. Your job is to figure out:
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Why is this statement important for journalists?
How could it combine with the other statements?
When would you not use this statement as a journalist?
Press Ethics Statements:
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“We can only justify preventing freedom of speech if people are harmed.” (John Mill’s
Harm Principle)
“The only security of all is in a free press.”
“I may not believe in what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it”
(Thomas Jefferson)
Task Three – Create your own “Code of Ethics”
As a group, you are responsible for negotiating a set of ethics for the practice of journalism in
your class. You need to combine journalistic ethics with the practice of behavior that is
appropriate for high school.
1. Choose something that the person who is talking will hold. Only the person holding the
object or the teacher has the right to talk. A pen or marker might be a good choice.
2. As the pen is passed around the circle, you should suggest ideas for your class's
Journalists Code of Ethics.
3. To be included in the code, each idea must be agreed to by the entire group.
4. If there is no complete agreement (consensus), the group must continue to discuss an idea
until everyone rejects or accepts it.
5. Once you have consensus on a code of ethics, one student should use the talking circle
object (your pen or marker) to make a poster of the code to hang in your classroom.
6. Once you have had this discussion, read below on WHY and HOW to create a Code of
Ethics, and then create your own on the attached sheet.
Why have a Code of Ethics?
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to define accepted/acceptable behaviors;
to promote high standards of practice;
to provide a benchmark for members to use for self-evaluation;
to establish a framework for professional behavior and responsibilities;
as a vehicle for occupational identity;
as a mark of occupational maturity;"
Guidance for Writing a Code of Ethics:
These suggestions are in no particular order.
1. What will be the purpose of your new code? Is it to regulate behavior? To inspire?
2. Different kinds of documents serve different purposes. Is your new document intended to
guide people or to set out requirements? Is it really a Code of Ethics that you need? You
might consider creating a Statement of Values, a Policy, a Mission Statement, a Code of
Conduct...
3. A code of ethics should be tailored to the needs and values of your organization.
4. Many ethics codes have two components. First, an aspirational section, often in the
preamble, that outlines what the organization aspires to, or the ideals it hopes to live up
to. Second, an ethics code will typically list some rules or principles, which members of
the organization will be expected to adhere to.
5. Will your new ethics document include some sort of enforcement? If so, what kind?
6. Often the principles or values listed in an ethics document will be listed in rough order of
importance to the organization. The ordering need not be strict, but generally the value or
principle listed first will have a natural prominence.
7. Think carefully about the process by which you create your new code. Who will be
involved? A small working group? Or all the people affected by the code? How will you
distil the needs of your organization and the beliefs of your members into a document?
The process may matter as much as the final product.
8. How will your new code be implemented? How will it be publicized, both inside and
outside of your organization? What steps, if any, will be taken to ensure that the values
embodied in your code get implemented in organizational policies and practices?
9. How / when will your code be reviewed / revised?
And remember that a code of ethics will not solve all ethical problems:
"But we must remember that good laws, if they are not obeyed, do not constitute good
government. Hence there are two parts of good government; one is the actual obedience of
citizens to the laws, the other part is the goodness of the laws which they obey..." (Aristotle,
Politics 1294a3-6).
Task Four - Scenario Problem Solving
With your group members read each of the cases and decide what is the ethical choice to make.
Use your Code of Ethics to make the choice. Spend at least 5-10 minutes on each case, and be
prepared to defend your response. Record your analysis on the list of situations attached.