The Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists is a service that provides free help to professional journalists struggling with an ethical decision

Ethics

Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...

 while covering the news. The program is supported by the Society of Professional Journalists

Society of Professional Journalists

The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...

 and Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...

Center for Ethics and Social Justice.

History

The Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists was started on January 2, 2001 by Casey Bukro and David Ozar, its co-directors. It has dealt with over 600 cases since then. Queries are responded to by a volunteer staff trained in Journalism Ethics at the Center for Ethics at Loyola University, Chicago. They are assisted by veteran journalists, and must complete a ten-week training program. Staff members are on call for 2 weeks at a time. They review their responses with members of the Chicago Headline Club, the Chicago chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The program aims to help callers think through their situation and decide on a final course of action themselves. In addition to helping journalists, the program also aims to discover in what areas journalists have the most ethical concerns.

System

The Ethics AdviceLine is a system that allows callers to leave a message at any time. They may also submit a query online, which is later answered by phone. The program is available only to professional journalists. The program's official aim is to help callers make ethical decisions that:

1. Are well informed by available standards of professional journalistic practice, especially the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics;
2. Take account of the perspectives of all the parties involved in the situation;
3. Employ clear and careful ethical thinking in reaching a decision