This lesson plan is designed to help journalists understand the need to apply editorial ethics to their newsgathering and news production.
It’s based on an article ‘Why editorial ethics are important‘ which we suggest trainers read before adapting the lesson plan for your own purposes.
Learning objective
Students will evaluate editorial decisions by applying ethical guidelines to various journalistic scenarios. They will identify potential ethical challenges and propose solutions to ensure integrity and fairness in reporting.
- Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson the student will be able to assess editorial choices using ethical standards and suggest ways to handle ethical dilemmas in journalism.
- Standards: Students will learn how to navigate some of the ethical challenges they might face as they go about their work.
Learning activities
Warm-up
Begin with a brief discussion on the concept of bias in newsgathering and media production. Ask students to think about a news story they’ve recently encountered. Prompt them with questions:
- What was the main message of the story?
- Did the story seem to favour a particular viewpoint?
- Were multiple perspectives presented?
Encourage students to share their thoughts with a partner. After a few minutes, ask volunteers to share insights with the class. This will activate prior knowledge and set the stage for exploring editorial ethics.
Direct instruction
- Conceptual understanding: Introduce the core principles of editorial ethics. Discuss key concepts such as accuracy, impartiality, and integrity. Use real-world examples to illustrate these principles. For instance, present a case where a journalist faced an ethical dilemma, such as whether to publish sensitive information. Ask students to identify the ethical considerations involved.
- Procedural skills and fluency: Explain the process of evaluating a news story for ethical compliance. Break down the steps:
- Identify the journalistic purpose.
- Assess the inclusion of diverse perspectives.
- Evaluate the thoroughness and fairness of the reporting.
- Asking critical questions: Provide a sample news article (without revealing its source) and guide students through these steps, prompting them to ask critical questions about the article’s content and approach.
- Application: Present a hypothetical scenario where students must make editorial decisions. For example, a story about a local protest with conflicting reports from different sources. Ask students to:
- Determine which sources to trust and why.
- Decide how to present the story to ensure fairness and accuracy.
- Consider the potential consequences of their editorial choices.
- Group discussion: Facilitate a class discussion on the decisions made and the ethical implications, encouraging students to justify their choices based on the principles discussed.
Guided practice
Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a structured discussion to apply ethical guidelines to a real-world scenario.
- Think: Present a brief news article with potential ethical issues. Ask students to individually identify and note any ethical challenges they observe, considering questions like: What is the journalistic purpose? Are diverse perspectives included? Is the reporting thorough and fair?
- Pair: Have students pair up to discuss their observations. Encourage them to compare notes and refine their understanding of the ethical issues present in the article.
- Share: Facilitate a class-wide discussion where pairs share their findings. Encourage students to articulate their reasoning and propose solutions to the ethical challenges identified.
- Connect: As a class, connect the discussion back to the core principles of editorial ethics. Highlight how the students’ observations align with or challenge these principles.
- Reflect: Conclude with a reflection on how applying ethical guidelines can impact journalistic integrity and public trust. Encourage students to consider how they might handle similar ethical dilemmas in their future work.
Independent practice
- Provide students with a set of brief news scenarios, each containing potential ethical dilemmas.
- Ask students to individually analyse each scenario, applying the ethical guidelines discussed in class.
- Instruct them to identify the ethical challenges, propose solutions, and justify their decisions based on the principles of editorial ethics.
- Encourage students to document their thought process and conclusions for each scenario.
- Circulate to observe and support students as needed, ensuring they are engaging critically with the material.
Assignment
Ask students these questions:
- What is one ethical guideline you applied today, and how did it influence your decision-making?
- Can you identify a potential consequence of not following editorial ethics in journalism?
- What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?
Suggested answers:
- Suggested answer to Question 1: I applied the guideline of ensuring diverse perspectives, which helped me present a balanced view in the scenario.
- Suggested answer to Question 2: Not following editorial ethics can lead to biased reporting, which may mislead the public and damage trust in journalism.
Teacher resources
Differentiation guide
- Advanced learners: Encourage deeper analysis by having them explore complex ethical dilemmas in journalism, such as conflicts of interest or the balance between public interest and privacy. Suggest they research real-world cases where editorial ethics were challenged and present their findings to the class.
- Striving learners: Simplify scenarios and focus on one or two key ethical principles at a time. Provide structured guidance and examples to help them identify ethical challenges. Use visual aids or graphic organisers to help them map out their thought process and ethical considerations.
- Recommended reading: This lesson plan is based on an article ‘Why editorial ethics are important‘ which we suggest you read before adapting the lesson for your own purposes.
Notable definitions
- Editorial ethics: A set of principles guiding journalists to ensure their work is fair, accurate, and impartial, avoiding bias and maintaining integrity in reporting.
- Impartiality: The practice of reporting news without favoritism or bias, ensuring all relevant perspectives are considered and presented fairly.
- Integrity: Upholding honesty and moral principles in journalism, ensuring that reporting is truthful, transparent, and free from conflicts of interest.
Required materials
- Sample news articles with potential ethical issues
- Printed copies of ethical guidelines for reference
- Whiteboard and markers for class discussions
- Projector for displaying case studies and scenarios
- Notebooks or digital devices for student reflections and notes
Lesson summary
- Warm-up
- Direct instruction
- Guided practice
- Independent practice
- Assignment
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
