Citizen Journalist Code of Ethics

Uncategorized
Wishlist Share

What Will You Learn?

  • By the end of this course, you will be able to:
  • Understand the role of journalism in a democratic society
  • Distinguish clearly between fact, opinion, and commentary
  • Gather information through observation, interviews, and public records
  • Verify information before publishing and explain your sources
  • Write clear, accurate news stories without inserting personal opinion
  • Conduct ethical interviews and handle sources responsibly
  • Recognize and manage conflicts of interest
  • Make sound decisions about accuracy, fairness, and harm
  • Correct errors transparently and maintain credibility
  • Serve the public record through fact-based local reporting
  • This course emphasizes accuracy, verification, and restraint. You will not be trained to persuade or advocate. Instead, you will learn how to report facts clearly and allow readers to form their own conclusions.

Course Content

Introduction to Citizen Journalism
Citizen journalism exists for one reason: to strengthen communities through accurate, factual reporting. Local events, public meetings, school decisions, and community issues shape everyday life—but they often go uncovered. Citizen journalists help fill that gap by documenting what happens and preserving the public record. This course introduces students and community members to the fundamentals of journalism: how to observe, verify, and report information responsibly. Participants will learn how to gather facts, interview sources, review public records, and write clear news stories that inform without persuading. A core principle of this course is the separation of journalism and commentary. While opinions have a place in public discussion, this course focuses exclusively on fact-based reporting. Personal views, advocacy, and commentary are not part of citizen journalism as practiced here. Throughout the course, participants will: Learn the ethics and responsibilities of journalism Practice distinguishing facts from opinions Develop interviewing and note-taking skills Understand accuracy, verification, and corrections Produce community-centered reporting grounded in evidence Citizen journalism is not about influence or activism. It is about attention, accuracy, and accountability. The goal is to inform neighbors, document decisions, and create a reliable record of community life. By the end of this course, participants will understand not only how to report, but why responsible journalism matters—especially at the local level.

Citizen Journalism Responsibilities

What Journalism Is and Is Not
Purpose of journalism in society Journalism vs. commentary vs. advocacy The role of the journalist in a local community Serving the public record

News Values and Story Selection
What makes something “news” Timeliness, relevance, impact, proximity Public interest vs. curiosity Avoiding sensationalism

The 5 “W’s” and 1 “H”
Who, What, When, Where, Why, How Structuring information clearly Identifying what is known vs. unknown

Fact, Opinion, and Verification
Defining facts vs. opinions How opinion sneaks into reporting Verification vs. repetition Why accuracy matters more than speed

Sourcing and Attribution
Primary vs. secondary sources On-the-record, background, off-the-record When (and when not) to use anonymous sources Proper attribution and transparency

Interviewing Skills
Preparing interview questions Asking neutral, open-ended questions Listening and note-taking Quoting accurately and fairly

Writing the News Story
The inverted pyramid Writing clear ledes Avoiding loaded or emotional language Clarity, brevity, and precision

Ethics in Journalism
Accuracy and accountability Conflicts of interest Minimizing harm Corrections and transparency Ethics in small communities

Public Records and Open Meetings
What public records are How to request documents Covering public meetings

Editing and Fact Checking
Self-editing for clarity and neutrality Fact-checking names, dates, numbers Headline accuracy Final verification checklist

Breaking News and Developing Stories
What to publish—and what to wait on Reporting uncertainty responsibly Updating stories ethically Safety considerations

Journalism in the Digital Age
Social media as a reporting tool (not a source) Verifying online information Photos, video, and ethical visuals Permanence of published work

Local Journalism and Community Impact
Covering schools, councils, courts, and nonprofits Reporting without taking sides Accountability journalism at the local level Building trust with readers

Corrections, Retractions, and Accountability
How to issue corrections Learning from mistakes Maintaining credibility over time

Capstone Practice
Reporting a short local story Using verified sources Writing without commentary Editor review and revision

Photojournalism Basics

Data Literacy for Journalists

Media Law Fundamentals (Libel/Privacy)