CODE OF ETHICS OF
COMMUNICATORS AND
JOURNALISTS
Professionals in the
field of
communication must
work with integrity,
authenticity, and
justice.
2
Spot the Fake One
Tell whether the following news headline is
real or fake.
President Donald Trump is photographed
alongside Osama Bin Laden.
3
Spot the Fake One
Tell whether the following news headline is
real or fake.
The Philippines shows economic resilience
amid the pandemic.
4
Spot the Fake One
Tell whether the following news headline is
real or fake.
The Philippines is expected to win in its
territorial fight over the West Philippine Sea
over China.
5
Spot the Fake One
Tell whether the following news headline is
real or fake.
Research shows virgin coconut oil is effective
in preventing COVID-19.
6
Spot the Fake One
Tell whether the following news headline is
real or fake.
COVID-19 cases in the Philippines have
reached 7,000 a day from the end of March
to the first week of April 2021.
7
HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO DETERMINE THE
VERACITY OF EACH NEWS HEADLINE?
8
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO VERIFY IF THE
NEWS IS REAL OR FAKE?
9
WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO MAKE
SURE THAT ALL PIECES OF INFORMATION
IN THE NEWS ARE TRUE?
10
Why is it important for communication
professionals to follow a code of ethics?
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CODE OF ETHICS OF COMMUNICATION
PROFESSIONALS
● Professionals are tasked to perform their duty in line
with fulfilling the goals of their specific discipline.
● Each profession has its own parameters to determine
how one should appropriately conduct his/her
professional role in the society.
12
CODE OF ETHICS OF COMMUNICATION
PROFESSIONALS
Communication professionals must understand and
apply ethical principles in their job when they
deliver information to the public.
13
ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMUNICATORS
Ethical communicators are
egalitarian.
● advocates that all people are
equal in rights and
opportunities
● speak and write in a manner
that is easily understandable
and relatable to their audience
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ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMUNICATORS
Ethical communicators are
respectful.
● remain respectful and calm;
keeping emotions in check
● respectfully deal with all
negative concerns
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ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMUNICATORS
Ethical communicators are
trustworthy.
● trust is important in
communication
● create healthy relationships
with the public
● gaining the public’s trust can
take a lot of time and effort,
and in a short span of time, it
can be lost 16
ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMUNICATORS
Ethical communicators use
the “Golden Rule”.
● put themselves in the shoes
of their audience
● sensitive and conscious of the
effects of the news or
information they are
delivering
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CODE OF ETHICS OF COMMUNICATION
PROFESSIONALS
Code of Ethics of Journalists
● Journalists have a huge influence when it comes to
important information.
● Journalists are expected to uphold the core principles of
ethical journalism.
18
CODE OF ETHICS OF JOURNALISTS
Truth and Accuracy
● acquire the trust of the public
● courageous and honest in
gathering, reporting, and
interpreting information
● exercise honesty and maintain
integrity
19
CODE OF ETHICS OF JOURNALISTS
Minimize Harm
● treat everyone as human
beings deserving of
respect
● show compassion for
people who may be
affected by the news
coverage
● be sensitive 20
CODE OF ETHICS OF JOURNALISTS
Independence
● avoid conflicts of interests that may affect their
reputation
● “independent voices” of truthful information
● highest and primary obligation is to serve the public
21
CODE OF ETHICS OF JOURNALISTS
Accountability and Transparency
● show accountability for any
mistake they have made
● be transparent when it
comes to delivering news
22
How should communicators and
journalists react when they find out that
they inadvertently gave people incorrect
information?
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TRUE OR FALSE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF THE
STATEMENT IS CORRECT. OTHERWISE, KEEP YOUR
HANDS DOWN.
1. COMMUNICATORS IN THE FIELD OF BUSINESS
ARE EXPECTED TO BE TRUTHFUL IN
MARKETING THEIR PRODUCTS TO THEIR
CLIENTS OR CONSUMERS.
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TRUE OR FALSE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF THE
STATEMENT IS CORRECT. OTHERWISE, KEEP YOUR
HANDS DOWN.
2. ANY NEWS BROADCASTER IS TASKED TO
VERIFY ALL THE NEWS HEADLINES HE/SHE
NEEDS TO REPORT BEFORE THE AIRING OF
THE NEWS PROGRAM.
25
TRUE OR FALSE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF THE
STATEMENT IS CORRECT. OTHERWISE, KEEP YOUR
HANDS DOWN.
3. EDITORS ARE TASKED TO IMMEDIATELY FIRE
ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE
POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS.
26
TRUE OR FALSE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF THE
STATEMENT IS CORRECT. OTHERWISE, KEEP YOUR
HANDS DOWN.
4. COMMUNICATORS MUST HELP THEIR CLIENTS
EVALUATE HOW THEIR NEW PRODUCT WILL BE
RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC.
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TRUE OR FALSE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF THE
STATEMENT IS CORRECT. OTHERWISE, KEEP YOUR
HANDS DOWN.
5. WRITERS MUST NEVER APOLOGIZE WHEN
CAUGHT PUBLISHING INCORRECT DATA
BECAUSE IT WILL RUIN THEIR REPUTATION.
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● Communication plays an important part
in building relationships among people in
society.
● Communicators and journalists are
expected to be ethically responsible in
fulfilling their duty of delivering accurate
information to the people.
29
● Communicators are expected to be
egalitarian, respectful, trustworthy, and
conscious of other people by following the
golden rule in practicing their profession.
● Journalists are expected to be responsible for
delivering accurate news and information to
the public by being truthful and accurate
with the data, by minimizing harm to the
public and specific people involved in certain
issues or situations, being independent, and
being accountable and transparent in
delivering news and information to the people. 30
Create a Venn diagram that will present the
similarities of the ethical responsibilities among
communicators, journalists, and the public
audience.
