Conflict of Interest Applied to a Modern Day Journalism Issue - Essay Example

Conflict of Interest in Canadian Journalism Conflict of Interest in Canadian Journalism Journalism principles and standards comprise ethical codes that are of good practice as pertinent to the particular challenges journalists face. Historically and presently, this subdivision of media ethics is greatly known to journalists as their certified ‘canons of journalism’ or ‘code of conduct.’ The fundamental principles and codes usually appear in statements enlisted by both individual and professional journalism associations, broadcast, and other news organizations. When journalists are compelled to make decision with competing tenets, it culminates in great damage either on their professional duties or on personal lives, thus developing a conflict of interest. This conflict of interest often involves personal, financial, or professional obligations, which compete with the journalist’s accountability to their media audience and organization. This essay describes what constitutes a conflict of interest and goes ahead to provide different issues associated with the vice. The essay then provides a conflict of interest issue witnessed in Canadian journalism. Borden and Pritchard (2001) define a conflict of interest as scenario in which an individual in a position of trust has opposing individual or professional interests. Such competing interests could challenge the individual’s capacity to fulfil his or her obligations in an impartial way, and could be potentially influence the performance of his or her official responsibilities and duties in an improper way. In an era of growing and great displeasure with the media, it is critical that journalists evade conflicts of interest, comprising situations, which compete with their personal, financial or professional obligations or issues, which compete with the journalists responsibility to his organization and audience. Retief (2002) posits that some common conflict of interest situations faced with journalists include writing about family members and friendsTop of Form Bottom of Form . Most newspapers prohibit their reporters from writing concerning or comprising quotes from family members or friends, although there may exist some exemptions, especially where the reporter remains objective in the issue such as in a memoir or an autobiography. However, even here there is a responsibility: the writer should be open and specify the relationship. When a journalist is sent out to sample a story , he or she should not have close relationships with his sources, unless the reporter can justly claim the relationship will not influence what he or she writes in any situation (Hausman, 1990). Another conflict of interest situation is press junkets. Most revered news organizations bar their reporters from contributing in press junkets, which are primarily trips provided to journalists that are remunerated by the entities the news reporters cover, i.e., electronics companies, movie studios, government agencies, etc. (Hausman, 1990). Accepting hospitality is a conflict of interest issue in journalism. For instance, if a journalist is interviewing a director at his or her home or the director’s office, it is acceptable to accept a soft drink or a sandwich. However, the reporter should pay for the drink or meal at a restaurant (Retief, 2002). Taking alcohol on the job can be problematical even if a reporter is researching a story on the challenge of drinking on campuses. Most importantly, acceptance of any gifts by journalists from the subjects or sources of their stories comprise a conflict of interest. In some instances, subjects will advance tokens of their appreciation after the episode, maybe upon publication of the issue (Hausman, 1990). Nevertheless, every media outlet has its policy on accepting any kinds of gifts. For instance, it may be acceptable to accept private lodging, food, or small tokens of gratitude or affection. Correspondingly, in some cultures such as Japan, it is okay for a reporter to present a gift to a subject before the interview commences, particularly if the interview is being carried out at the subject’s home (Borden & Pritchard, 2001). A conflict of interest issue has been documented in Canadian journalism. …reports that Canadian journalism has turned into a strange place riddled with secret businesses and sex scandals. The implicated journalist is Kevin O’Leary who is the notorious half of a previous show ‘Lang and O’Leary Exchange.’ Bernier (2015) documents that there were serious disturbing allegations made the previous year against Jian Ghomeshi followed by the development of a major scandals, which apparently rubbed in the wrong way every Canadian who watches the news and trusts that they are being told facts. The issue has become a question of journalistic credibility. The scandal involving Leslie Roberts made him to resign from his post with Global TV of Toronto. Amanda Lang and Leslie Roberts’s integrity had come into focus after it was revealed that they were secretly engaging in unacceptable businesses observed on their corresponding broadcasts. These actions keep on fueling the nationwide debate on what is regarded as a conflict of interest in the broadcasting studio, which started in early 2014 after it was shown that CBC’s Peter Mansbridge took a paid speaking work from an oil-industry lobbyist (Bernier, 2015). Consequently, CBC publicly placed restrictions on workers accepting speaking jobs from entities, which are meant to influence public policy. Apart from speaking at events sponsored by RBC, Lang also did not reveal the truth to her colleagues regarding other likely conflict-of-interest matters, comprising writing an editorial piece for the Globe and Mail backing the use of foreign employees, and her romantic relationship with a board member of RBC - Geoff Beattie. Leslie Roberts, represented the face of Global TV’s news coverage, but used the platform to market customers of a PR company he co-owned (Bernier, 2015). This company is known for coaching its media clients, many of whom show up on The Morning and the News Hour show. Both news reporters hid these associations from their employers leading to questioning of conflicts of interests in journalism. The result was the resignation of Roberts from his position after an indefinite suspension. However, Lang is still a worker at CBC despite of allegedly trying to ‘kill’ an expose, which placed RBC in the bad light. Roberts and Lang argued that their connections to these firms did not bias their journalistic duties. However, it is hard to fathom how two competent journalists interviewed people to whom they had financial connection without revealing it to their employers and viewers and employers raising serious issues of credibility and conflicts of interest in journalism (Bernier, 2015). In conclusion, conflict of interest often comprises the competition of personal, financial, or professional obligations with an individual’s accountability to their audience and organizations. Such competing interests could challenge the individual’s ability to fulfil their duties impartially, and could potentially influence their performance and duties. Conflict of interest situations faced with journalists include writing about their family members and friends, contributing in press junkets, and accepting hospitality. When journalists are compelled to make decision with competing tenets, it culminates in great damage either on their professional duties or on personal lives, thus developing a conflict of interest. This conflict of interest often involves personal, financial, or professional obligations, which compete with the journalist’s accountability to their media audience and organization. Canadian journalism has turned into a strange place riddled with secret businesses and sex scandals. This makes it hard to fathom how competent journalists interviewed groups to which they had personal connection without the knowledge of their employers raising serious issues of conflict of interest and integrity in journalism. References Bernier, M. F. (2015). The professional ‘Creed’of francophone journalists in linguistic majorities and minorities in Canada. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies, 4(1), 153-168. Borden, S. L., & Pritchard, M. S. (2001). Conflict of interest in journalism. Conflict of Interest in the Professions, 73-91. Hausman, C. (1990). The decision-making process in journalism. New York: Nelson-Hall. Retief, J. (2002). Media ethics: an introduction to responsible journalism. Oxford University Press, USA. Read More