Journalist's Responsibilities

A journalist writes professionally about world issues, local events, people and trends. There is a great amount of responsibility a journalist faces when presenting material to the public. Professional journalists follow a standard of conduct and ethics when working in mass media settings such as broadcast, newspapers, magazines and Internet.

Legal Responsibility * Journalists face important legal responsibilities. They should know their rights and the rights of each individual, and they should be sure they are compliant with legal issues. This will ensure there is no intrusion on matters of confidentiality and privacy. Libelous and slanderous remarks can result in legal action against journalists.
While working as a journalist, one should be well conversant with all legal clutches as to avert the generation of complicacy as well as to keep the organization ‘troublefree’ any way. For this reason, a journalist must not intervene or inflict to someone’s privacy or confidential matter until it is required to be brought to the notice of public. Any libellous or defamatory presentation taking with someone, any organization or group, is not permittable and should strictly be avoided by the journalist. Libellous and defamatory writings or pictures, may earn instantly resounse or reply from the public with larger acceptance, but it is not pertinent as well as not complying with the standard of professionalism.
Social Responsibility * Media relate current events to the rest of society. These events are presented in the form of pictures and articles. It is the duty of a journalist to make sure the information is presented in a fair, balanced and truthful manner. Relating current events helps keep the general public informed and provides it with entertainment. It is a journalist's duty not to sensationalize any media event for her own benefit.
Press reflects the social images or pictures of our society. The whole activities of the press imparts many events of our society with a view to present them later on, in decent manner to the society people. The intention behind such approaches and activities, is to make the society people to be well-informed as well as well-aware of round about happenings. So,every presentation of any journalist should be fair, balance, truthful, inspiring and meeting the needs of common consumers of the news. Beside the usual events ,a journalist can highlight so many unsolved areas of the society by seeking solution for the same through the activity of journalism and must not overlook or avoid this great part of responsibility towards the society.The presentation of journalist should, initiate an environment of understanding within the society and should continue the same in sustained manner, in upholding it satisfactorily. Development of any society mostly, depending upon the imparting of creative and objectful journalistic activities.
Professional Responsibility * A journalist has a professional responsibility to present an accurate portrayal of events as they occur. This usually is accomplished through excellent and thorough research. A professional journalist will present only the facts, leaving out her own opinions.
A journalist should have sincerity and commitment towards its profession. The news ofany event that is going to be published for the audience, should be delineated very clearly and faiely. A very good homework in this regard is essential for each and every event, and should be done by the journalist with a view to present the same to the audience confidently and satisfactorily.. The presentation must be truthful and unbiased above all and shall never bring any embarrassment or complicacy to the organization anyway in future. The objective of any journalist is to disseminate the correct and fair report in undistorted manner to the audience rather than crowding them intentially or allegedly to meet the present challenging situation of the news world.. A news report should be created with greater care and responsibility as to maintain its degree of standard at higher level by avoiding any type inclusion of undesireable and provocative part or portion. A journalist definitely, would require a high degree of professionalism in presenting any performances to the audience on behalf of any organization, and could be achieved so by dint of die-hard efforts and unending searching ability, and being respectful to the works ,understanding with the surroundings and accountability towards the society as well. A journalist must follow the newspaper editor’s deadlines.
Ethical Responsibility * Journalists are bound to a code of ethics. An ethical journalist will provide the audience with meaningful information, but she also will know when information is too sensitive to be reported. For example, when reporting a crime or a death, journalists should be aware of family members who are involved or who have not yet been notified of the tragedy.
Reporting the News * Journalists are responsible for being active in their community. They learn to uncover facts and know what is relevant and useful before it is printed. Journalists sift through insignificant stories and report on what the public is interested in.
The Job of the Journalist (taken from Journalism: Who What When Where Why & How 19)
Journalists decide what news is, and in doing so they make many important decisions about what a society says to itself, how it explains itself, what social order is established and maintained, and how the problems and shortcomings of that society are revealed. In addition to doing all these things, journalists also have certain responsibilities to their own profession: * They must maintain the standards of their profession as well as the customs and conventions of the journalistic culture. These conventions include gathering news and information, editing it for their medium, and distributing it in ways that meet standards of fairness and accuracy. * Journalists have the responsibility of maintaining the economic health of their news organizations. Because these organizations are not government sponsored or supported (except in rare instances), they must make enough profit to continue operation and to have the resources to practice the kind of journalism that is expected and necessary for society. * Finally, journalists are charged with fostering and promoting the idea of an open society in which information flows freely, people can think and speak creatively and a variety of points of view about all topics is tolerated.