The values and ethics of journalism

Journalism is the last, fun industry to work in.
These are the words of Phillip Knightley who I heard speak last night at City University.

But what of ethics?
Do they exist?
Which other industry could you have a lecture from a senior figure in your field with the comment “…unusual sex in a torture chamber is not illegal”?

Knightley who worked for the Sunday Times Insight team says he has no regrets

Yesterday I also found myself in a two hour debate between journalism students and teachers over the ethics of journalism.
Before entering the room I joked with one teacher: “we’re going to talk about ethics in journalism.”
“Yes, it shouldn’t take long!” was the reply.
In the room we heard tales of researchers chasing down rape victims, using the clergy to get to a dead baby’s mother, screwing over senior police officers and interviewing a rape victims.
All speakers said they have no regrets (neither did Phillip Knightley) and all felt they had no need to justify it – it’s their job (they all work for broadsheet newspapers).

To anyone inside that room, hidden deep in the bowels of the building we were in in what felt like a secret bunker, they would have been shocked and disgusted – maybe some people were.

How do you best approach someone who has just lost their only child? How do you ask a rape victim to describe the moments during that awful event? Do you help a victim or just look on?

Yesterday I also visited an animal testing lab in London and spoke to the staff who look after the animals.
They were pleasant and clearly cared about the animals, but they all said they don’t tell many people about their jobs (one said he says he works for the Inland Revenue because no one asks him further questions).
One worker who looked after the rats and mice in the lab said: “The worst thing about the job is you know what you’re doing is worthwhile but you can’t tell people.”

I think the same can be applied to journalism (just). We, as journalists might have to take part in horrible experiences and do some awful things – but maybe, just maybe, the end might just about justify the means.

Let’s not completely kid ourselves though. Journalism, by comparison, is usually unethical and immoral. But sometimes, just sometimes, it can bring about some good – and give us some fun along the way. I don’t think many other careers can do that.