By Ariana Magafas
Being a journalist in modern times comes with ethical and legal challenges that may be encountered. One of the challenges is libel. According to Freedom Forum Institute, libel is the “publication of false statements of fact that damage someone’s reputation.” Libel is also known as defamation. Libel is considered a main challenge in the journalism industry because journalists can be sued by a public figure if the content they publish is incorrect and harmful to the public figure’s character. Electronic Frontier Foundation defines a public figure as “someone who has actively sought, in a given matter of public interest, to influence the resolution of the matter.” Celebrities, politicians, and business leaders are all considered public figures. However, it is more difficult for libel lawsuits to go in the favor of public figures than private figures. Furthermore, the public figure must show evidence that the journalist was aware of the false statements they published, also known as actual malice.
Another challenge faced in the journalism industry is media bias. According to Student News Daily, types of media bias include bias by omission, bias by selection of sources, bias by story selection, bias by placement, bias by labeling, and bias by spin. Media bias is a significant challenge that journalists experience because it is the responsibility of a journalist to write neutral pieces and avoid leaning towards a specific side of an issue. Readers and viewers can check their news sources and evaluate media bias on charts that divide sources based on their left-wing, right-wing, or centrist views.
If I get a job in the journalism industry, it is important to steer clear of the ethical and legal challenges in the field. I will avoid libel by not making claims based on assumption. Moreover, I will make sure that every detail is truthful and not exaggerated nor fabricated. To minimize bias, I will only include factual information and avoid opinionated statements.
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