{"id":85,"date":"2015-06-09T02:36:39","date_gmt":"2015-06-09T02:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adam.ona\/ethics\/?page_id=85"},"modified":"2015-08-23T20:42:57","modified_gmt":"2015-08-23T20:42:57","slug":"instructions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/journalists-org-develop.go-vip.co\/ethics\/instructions\/","title":{"rendered":"Building and using your customized ethics code"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to ONA\u2019s Build Your Own Ethics Code. If this is your first visit, consider browsing the various sections of the site to get a feel for how the project works. When you\u2019re ready to start building your own code, follow the steps below.<\/p>\n

If you run into questions as you navigate the site and build your code, visit our FAQ page<\/a>, which provides additional tips.<\/p>\n

Getting started<\/h3>\n
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  1. Create an account. Doing so allows you to save, edit and share your code.<\/li>\n
  2. Once you have an account, we\u2019ll ask you to review and accept our journalism fundamentals, those principles we believe should apply to all journalists and be part of every code.<\/li>\n
  3. Next, you\u2019ll want to consider whether your journalism is impartial or point-of-view. The section titled \u201cThe nature of your journalism\u201d will help you make that determination.\u00a0Remember that you\u2019ll need to click \u201csave and continue\u201d on each page as you add content or make changes.<\/li>\n
  4. From there, visit the specific modules that let you customize the remainder of your code. You can engage with all of the modules or just those that apply to the work you do. The 45+ modules are organized into seven categories: Financing your Journalism, Multimedia and Data, Organizational Policies, Professional Conduct, Reporting Issues, Social Concerns, and Writing and Editing.<\/li>\n
  5. In each module, we introduce a specific issue and then offer arguments that represent the various perspectives on it. Once you\u2019ve read them, click on the \u201cEthical Choices\u201d link to select statements from the list we provide. You can also edit the statements or write ones that more precisely reflect your own views. In several modules, we also include a link to best practices relating to the issue.<\/li>\n
  6. You don\u2019t have to create your code all in one session. Save your work as you go, so you can always go back and revise your code. Just remember to sign in at each visit, and click \u201csave and continue\u201d each time you make changes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Once you have worked through the site, you should have a comprehensive, personalized code that easily can be shared.<\/p>\n

    When your code is ready, you should make publicly transparent who participated in — or bears responsibility for — its creation, as well as whose conduct the code binds: just the journalists at your news organization, or everyone who works there.<\/p>\n

    Please help us continue to improve this project by posting questions or comments at the link on this site or by writing us at onaethics@gmail.com<\/a>. Once your code is complete, we encourage you to return at least annually to see additional material we\u2019ve added.<\/p>\n

    Below are some thoughts that may help guide you as you think through ethical issues.<\/p>\n

    The process of ethical deliberation<\/h3>\n

    Ethics codes are important in helping guide daily practice; on an ordinary day — if there is such a thing in journalism — journalists should find it easier to comply with the various pieces of the code. However, when it comes to tough ethical issues, ethics codes are only part of what should be a robust process of ethical reflection and dialogue<\/a> in every newsroom.<\/p>\n

    When you confront an ethical issue, you should bring multiple tools to the decision-making process. The ethics code is key, but so is the wisdom you\u2019ve gained through your own experiences, the insights others can provide and a clear framework for working through ethical questions.<\/p>\n

    In fact, a framework that has dialogue and deliberation built into it is essential in cases that involve tough ethical calls.<\/p>\n

    One relatively simple framework walks you through a process that is, ideally, conducted as a dialogue with others at your organization (or you could use Bob Steele\u2019s 10 questions to make good ethical decisions<\/a>):<\/p>\n