Accountability in the Professions: Accountability in Journalism

The Reinvented Journalist

“…The ideal of the transparent journalist, which underlies both the watchdog and the disseminator/explicator identities, is supposed to boost public trust and has been described as gaining momentum in the digital age (Karlsson 2011;Newton, Hodges and Keith 2004). In the studied materials, discursive reinforcement of this ideal is particularly discernible in the tweets about the Bar & Politics event, where the j-tweeter allows his followers a glimpse of the activities and interactions backstage.…”

“…The transparent journalist: The ideal of transparency underlies both the watchdog and the disseminator/explicator identities, and aims to attribute a sense of credibility, accountability, and legitimacy to the journalistic practices, thereby boosting public trust (Newton, Hodges and Keith 2004). The citizens should be enabled to critically assess the quality of the news content through the disclosure of journalistic processes and reporters' personal interests (Fisher 2015).…”

Pendemokrasian Maklumat Blog: Isu Akauntabiliti dalam Kalangan Blogger di Malaysia (The Democratization of Blogs’ Information: Issues on the Accountability Among Bloggers in Malaysia)

“…Walau bagaimanapun, istilah "akauntabiliti" dan "tanggungjawab" telah digunakan secara bergantian kerana tanggapan kebertanggungjawaban yang wujud bagi kedua-dua konsep. Menurut Newton et al (2004), akauntabiliti adalah perkataan yang paling sesuai dalam usaha untuk menyeru rakyat bagi melaksanakan tanggungjawab yang diberikan kepada mereka dengan baik. Tanggungjawab adalah perkataan yang paling sesuai dengan tugasan dalam sesebuah lingkaran keprihatinan sosial kepada individu dan kumpulan.…”

The Fast and the Erroneous

“…Media ethics scholars generally argue that the news media’s worth is dependent upon their ability to acquire and disseminate truth (Bardoel & D’Haenens, 2004; Meyers, 2010; Sanders, 2003; Singer, 2006), though accuracy does not automatically ensure journalistic truth; reporters can accurately report lies (Richards, 2005, p. 28). A number of internal and external accountability mechanisms (Bardoel & D’Haenens, 2004; Bertrand, 2000; Newton, Hodges, & Keith, 2004; Plaisance, 2000; Pritchard, 2000) have been proposed for ensuring that journalism is not only accurate but also truthful, including codes of ethics developed by media companies and professional organizations, such as the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). For instance, SPJ encourages reporters to “serve the public with thoroughness and honesty” (SPJ, 2013, Preamble), while RTDNA stipulates that “journalists should pursue truth aggressively and present the news accurately, in context, and as completely as possible” (RTDNA, 2013).…”

“… 2. Codes, however, cannot anticipate every eventuality (Black & Barney, 1985–1986) and enforcement can be difficult when codes are promulgated by professional organizations, which have been loath to bar members who violate standards (Christians, 1985). Most scholars agree that it takes a combination of mechanisms to properly encourage the accountability that is seen as helping to maintain the public’s trust (Bertrand, 2005; Christians, 1985; Newton et al, 2004; Plaisance, 2000; Sanders, 2003). …”