All journalism, but especially citizen journalism, faces ethical quandaries. Three of the thorniest issues in journalism ethics are independence, objectivity, and transparency. Together, these provide the core context for any work of journalism. They concern process as much as results and perception.
There is general agreement that all three are noble goals for journalists. However, there is lively debate over whether any of these are fully achievable in the real world -- and even more debate over what these terms actually mean. We'll be discussing and exploring these issues considerably in I, Reporter.
Personally, I see all three goals as being complementary and mutually necessary for sound journalism, whether professional or not. It works like a three-legged stool. If any one leg is emphasized at the expense of another, the stool tumbles. Yes, I have sat on enough bar stools to speak with authority on this matter.
I'm too rushed at the moment working on several simultaneous projects. So for now I'll just kick this off with a brief overview. I'd like to hear others' opinions on these goals, so we have a broader base for future discussion...
You never know where you'll find a news story -- especially if you keep your journalistic radar up and remember to focus on all six core questions of the journalistic mantra (who, what, when, where, why, and how) and choose creatively among them.
