not teaching,
still THINKING …
Summer internships are approaching, and journalism interns must take special care with their credibility. Not a journalist? Or an intern? These tips on how to stay above reproach still might apply.
- Don’t socialize with or enter into relationships with sources. This could mean local government or law enforcement officials, or local business owners or educators. Your audience will wonder if your news judgment has been compromised. Know your news organization’s policy on dating co-workers, which includes people who supervise you. As an intern, you are a special category of co-worker. Colleagues will question your judgment and, depending on policy, there could be serious consequences.
- Don’t become part of the story. Some potential conflicts seem mundane, and others get at the heart of living a rewarding personal and civic life. Still, there are some guidelines to keep in mind because your audience will question the motivation behind a story if you are on the fringes of coverage, or if you find yourself right in the middle of it. This could happen, for example, if you march in a community protest over a local issue, or in Washington over a national one; if you become a member of a committee or actively involve yourself in issues your news organization may cover; or if you volunteer at a nonprofit in your community that often makes the news. The important thing is to know company policy on journalist participation; it varies.
- Don’t give gifts to officials, sources or businesses in the community. No matter how small the gift, your audience will question what type of relationship exists if you give — or receive — gifts. So don’t accept them, either. But always explain your refusal to the gift-giver. This issue is delicate because you don’t want to seem rude. Know your news organization’s policy. Some acknowledge the gift with a note of thanks and a courteous explanation that the gift was passed along to a charity, a nursing home, or some other entity in need of it. Usually the gift-giver is not offended and actually appreciates the good deed.
Honesty is always the best approach to staying above reproach. If people question the veracity of even one piece of journalism because of personal integrity, then they will question everything. And your credibility is everything.
(These two profs are no longer teaching at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, but we are still thinking.)