Ellen Sullivan
Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School
Class: Journalism I & II, grades 10-12, 52 minutes
Lesson Plan: Ethics in Journalism
ASNE Reynolds Institute lectures and tools: The following lesson plan is based
on presentations by Bob Jensen from UT, Mike Hiestand from the Student Law Press
Center, and content from hsj.org. Using the presentations and resources, the lesson
plan provides a basic platform for understanding the role and responsibility of
journalism and journalists. It narrows to a discussion of student journalism and
journalists.
Objective: Foundation for understanding role of journalism in an open society,
while reviewing and acknowledging the responsibilities inherent in being a
journalist. Introducing the concept of rights and ethics pertaining to journalist, and
the terms particular to journalism law and ethics.
Materials: SmartBoard, notebooks, writing utensils including highlighters, copies
of Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
Initial class discussion questions:
What rights are protected in First Amendment?
What is the role of journalism in society? (Jensen)
2
What is a journalist’s “job”?
What is a journalist’s responsibility?
What is the role of student journalism/journalists?
Is it different than other journalists? If yes, how?
SmartBoard online: hsj.org Journalism 101 “9 Elements of Journalism”
Class discussion on the meaning of each of the following points, including examples
in the school setting.
“There are nine elements of journalism, according to veteran journalists Bill
Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel:
1. Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to citizens
3. Its essence is a discipline of verification.
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
7. It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.”
SmartBoard online: Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
Divide class into five groups:
--Pass out copy of Code of Ethics to each group.
3
--Read points and discuss.
--Highlight points that need clarification
--Highlight points group feels are most important to high school journalism
Class discussion based on small group notes:
--Code of Ethics, clarify points as necessary.
--Important points indentified by groups.
--Importance of adhering to Code. Why?
--How is writing for a news sources different than other types of student
writing?
SmartBoard online: hsj.org Everyday Ethics
As a class read online and discuss “7 Ethical Dilemmas Student Journalists Face”
--How is ethics different from law?
--What is “unprotected speech” in school journalism in particular? (Hiestand)
--libel
--invasion of privacy
--copyright infringement
-- “fighting words”
--create clear and present danger
--created clear and present threat
--obscenity
--serious, physical disruption of school
How does this fit with Code of Ethics?
Assessment: Participation quiz grade.