Depends on Who You Ask...

Ethics in Journalism

1. Seek Truth and Report It- seek the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but only report on what you know (or assume at that point) to be truth.  it's so true, we don't have to add a whole bunch of nonsense to the story.  i think people appreciate simplicity.  i think that people will respect that we aren't adding silly stuff in just to have a "longer story".  
2. Minimize Harm- Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.  this automatically makes me think of Julian Assange.  he DOES have "noble" aspirations...however it just blows my mind that he doesnt see that sometimes there are consequences to reporting on everything.  you know...let's take Brandon Davies for example.  if someone would have busted out and gave a whole bunch of details about his personal life and made him look like a scumbag and a horrible person for letting us down.  but instead, some people decided to report and be optimistic and positive about it all.  i think that totally changed peoples opinions.  it wasnt necessary to know exactly what he did (interesting, yes, but necessary--no)
   same thing about the Daniel Pearl....absolutely nuts. but you know what? it's necessary.  people were beginning to doubt why we were in the war...and here was more motivation.  this showed the type of people that we were fighting against.  the checklist includes "what are my motivations in doing this story?"  i think that is the key.
3. Act Independently- Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.  hmmm...definitely.  but at the same time, you have to be ethically straight.  Julian Assange is such a good example, bc he is absolutely ridiculous.  Yes, the public has the right to know...but i think there is a line...however...all this talk of lines..bleh.  i think people dont really bother with lines.  we just wanna get the new facts out.
4. Be Accountable- Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and EACH OTHER <---i like that one =D this is something that bothers me...mostly because i suck at it.  i have what some people call "dhiarrea" of the mouth (i.e. i can't control what comes out sometimes).  i have a friend that has always told me that my mouth will dig my grave.  we do have to answer to someone. all of us say stupid stuff.  blarg.  so some guy said he is scared of muslims...maybe he is.  i like that he said everything that he was thinking.   gosh...i just dont know.

when it comes down to it...ethics.  it just depends on who you ask.