Statement of Ethics

Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) is committed to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and working with newsrooms to create a healthy and sustainable newsroom culture. As PMJA members, we must report with fairness and integrity while creating welcoming and inclusive workplaces for all journalists. These goals can be accomplished through the following principles:

The Pursuit of Truth:

Journalism is the rigorous pursuit of truth and requires constant practice of fairness, balance and accuracy. As public media journalists, truth and fairness are our guiding lights and we must take every step necessary to ensure these principles are upheld.

Below are the pillars for success outlined by PMJA:

Fairness: We must focus on fairness through compassionate and thorough reporting. This includes treating all sources with the same level of respect and hearing from a variety of voices. It also means taking the time to ask “Why are we telling this story?”

Integrity and Trust: As members of PMJA, we understand that holding others accountable is part of our job, but we should also practice the highest level of integrity by holding ourselves accountable. Integrity is not only necessary to gain the trust of our audiences and our local communities but also the trust of those within our newsrooms. Leaders at all levels must set the example of high ethical standards each day, and outline clear expectations for what integrity looks like. In addition, we must not take advantage of the trust given to us by sources, our audience, or fellow journalists. This means acting with good intentions, accepting feedback with grace and correcting our mistakes promptly.

Transparency: We must be clear with our intentions and never deceive or mislead our sources or audience. We must be transparent in our reporting process and be willing to explain to the public how and why a story came to be.

Compassion: We must strive to minimize harm and understand the impact our reporting might have on a specific individual or group. This includes respecting the right to a fair trial and an assumption of innocence.

Independence: We must operate independently and away from outside influences. This means guarding against conflicts of interest and disclosing them if they arise. We will not accept compensation or gifts of any kind in return for coverage. We will not make donations of any kind to political candidates or political action committees. We will build firewalls between our journalism and our station license holder and its governing body.

Personal Bias: A journalist must use self-reflection to avoid personal biases. While it is impossible to recognize all our biases, it is our responsibility to challenge ourselves to examine our blind spots and educate ourselves.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

PMJA values equity, inclusion and dignity for all members. Leaders should strive to create newsrooms reflective of all communities and implement a culture of fairness and acceptance. PMJA member organizations should support all journalists, regardless of background, identity and perspective. We recommend newsrooms have systems in place to recognize and rectify shortcomings in areas of diversity and inclusion. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Adjust programming and coverage to reflect a diversifying population.

  • Prioritize putting non-white and gender-diverse staff into leadership positions.

  • Move away from unpaid internships, recognizing these perpetuate diversity issues within newsrooms.

  • Evaluate pay equity.

  • Allow open conversation about diversity and inclusion among staff and leadership.

  • Set newsroom/station goals regarding diversity and inclusion.

Positive Newsroom Culture:

A positive newsroom culture is never optional. PMJA members must help create open, welcoming and employee-focused workplaces that nurture growth and creativity. This can be accomplished by following these guidelines:

  • Remember members of a newsroom are people first, journalists second.

  • Journalists are often asked to cover heavy, difficult and even dangerous stories. Have systems in place to check on a reporter’s well-being and mental health.

  • Encourage open conversation about the mission of the station.

  • Prioritize diversity and inclusion within the newsroom.

  • Ensure pay equity among all staff.

  • Be unafraid to challenge an “it has always been done this way” mindset. 

  • Listen to newsroom members and accommodate reasonable requests.

  • Have clear behavioral and journalistic expectations for staff