Journalism Ethics Script

Warm-Up: Social Media Snapshot (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's start with a quick show of hands. How many of you use social media daily? Just about everyone, right? That's what I thought. Now, what platforms do you find yourselves on the most? Shout them out!"

(Allow students to share platforms like Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, etc. Acknowledge a few responses.)

Teacher: "Great. It's clear social media is a huge part of our lives, and it's constantly changing. For us, as aspiring journalists, these platforms are more than just a way to connect with friends or watch funny videos. They're powerful tools for reporting, sharing news, and engaging with our audience. But with that power comes a really significant responsibility. Today, we're going to dive into what that means: Social Media Responsibility and Ethics in Journalism."

Introduction to Journalism Ethics (5 minutes) - Refer to Social Media Ethics Slide Deck Slides 2-4

Teacher: (Transition to Social Media Ethics Slide Deck Slide 2) "As journalists, whether you're working for a major news outlet or running your school newspaper's Instagram, your actions on social media reflect on your credibility and the trust people place in your reporting. Think about it: if someone sees you sharing unverified information on your personal account, how does that impact their view of your serious journalism?"

(Transition to Social Media Ethics Slide Deck Slide 3) "So, let's talk about the bedrock principles. First, Credibility and Accuracy. What does it mean for a journalist to be credible? Why is accuracy so crucial in journalism? Can someone give me an example of what might happen if a journalist isn't accurate on social media?"

(Allow for a few student responses. Guide them to discuss the spread of misinformation, loss of trust, etc.)

Teacher: "Exactly. We need to verify, verify, verify! Before you hit share, ask: 'Is this true? Do I have multiple reliable sources for this?' And if you do make a mistake – because we're all human – what's the ethical thing to do? You correct it, quickly and transparently."

(Transition to Social Media Ethics Slide Deck Slide 4) "Next, we have Fairness and Transparency. 'Fairness' means presenting all sides of a story without bias. You want to give your audience the full picture, not just the angle you prefer. And 'Transparency' is about being open about who you are, your methods, and any potential conflicts of interest. If you're reporting on a school event where your best friend is performing, should you mention that? Why?"

(Allow for student responses. Emphasize the importance of disclosing potential biases to maintain trust.)

Social Media Scenario Activity (10 minutes) - Refer to Social Media Ethics Slide Deck Slide 5

Teacher: "Alright, now that we've reviewed these core ethics, it's time to put them into practice. I'm going to hand out the Social Media Scenario Activity. You'll see a few different situations that journalists might encounter on social media. I want you to get into small groups – two or three students per group, please. Read through these scenarios together and discuss how you would handle each one, applying the ethical principles we just talked about: credibility, accuracy, fairness, and transparency."

(Distribute the Social Media Scenario Activity. Monitor groups, offer guidance, and ensure they are on task.)

Teacher: "You'll have about 7-8 minutes for this. I'll let you know when it's time to bring it back for a class discussion. Remember, there might not be one single 'right' answer, but there will definitely be more ethical and less ethical approaches."

Ethical Dilemma Discussion (5 minutes) - Refer to Social Media Ethics Slide Deck Slide 6

Teacher: "Alright, class, let's bring it back together. I heard some really interesting discussions happening. Let's talk through a couple of these scenarios. Who would like to share how their group approached one of the situations? Maybe pick one you found particularly challenging."

(Use the Ethical Dilemma Discussion Guide to prompt discussion, ask clarifying questions, and draw out different perspectives. Focus on the reasoning behind their decisions.)

Teacher: "Excellent points. What common themes or best practices did you notice across the different scenarios? What was the biggest takeaway from this activity?"

Wrap-Up: Personal Responsibility (5 minutes) - Refer to Social Media Ethics Slide Deck Slide 7

Teacher: "To wrap things up today, remember this: the choices you make on social media, even on your personal accounts, can have a huge impact on your credibility, your future as a journalist, and the public's trust in you. It's not just about professional journalism; it's about being a responsible digital citizen."

"To help you reflect further, I'm handing out the Social Media Responsibility Worksheet. This is for individual reflection and reinforcement of today's learning. Please complete this for homework, or if you finish early, you can start on it now."

*(Distribute the Social Media Responsibility Worksheet.)

Teacher: "Thank you all for a thoughtful discussion today. I look forward to reading your reflections!"

Social Media Scenario Activity

Instructions: In your small groups, read each scenario below. Discuss how you, as a journalist, would ethically navigate each situation on social media. Be prepared to share your reasoning with the class, referencing the principles of credibility, accuracy, fairness, and transparency.

Scenario 1: The Breaking News Rumor

You are monitoring social media during a major local event (e.g., a power outage, a significant traffic accident). You see a post from a friend, who is usually reliable, claiming to know the real cause of the event, different from the official reports, and it's quickly gaining traction. They tag you, saying, "Hey, [Your Name]! As a journalist, you should report this!"

Discussion Questions:

• What are your immediate ethical considerations?
• What actions should you take before considering sharing this information?
• How would you respond to your friend or the post, if at all?
• What are the potential consequences of sharing or ignoring this rumor without verification?

Scenario 2: The Controversial Comment

You posted a news story you wrote for the school paper on your personal social media account. A classmate leaves a comment on your post that is highly critical and borders on offensive towards a group of people mentioned in your story. Other students are starting to like the comment and add similar ones.

Discussion Questions:

• What is your responsibility as a journalist in this situation?
• Should you delete the comment, hide it, or leave it up?
• How might your decision impact your perceived fairness and credibility?
• What message does your action (or inaction) send to your audience?

Scenario 3: The Anonymous Tip

You receive a direct message (DM) on social media from an anonymous account claiming to have exclusive information about a scandal involving a teacher at your school. They provide a screenshot that looks convincing but could easily be faked. They demand that you publish the story immediately, threatening to release it elsewhere if you don't.

Discussion Questions:

• What are the ethical challenges presented by an anonymous social media tip?
• How would you attempt to verify the information and the source?
• What are the risks of publishing based solely on this tip?
• How do you balance the pursuit of a story with the need for accuracy and fairness to all parties involved?

Ethical Dilemma Discussion Guide

Purpose: To facilitate a whole-class discussion following the Social Media Scenario Activity, allowing students to share their group discussions and reinforce key ethical principles.

Opening the Discussion (Choose 1-2 scenarios to discuss as a whole class)

Teacher Prompt: "Alright, everyone, let's bring it back together. I heard some really thoughtful discussions happening in your groups. Let's talk through a couple of these scenarios as a class. Who would like to share how their group approached one of the situations? Feel free to pick one you found particularly challenging or interesting."

Guiding Questions for Each Scenario (as chosen by the class):

For Scenario 1: The Breaking News Rumor

• "What was your group's initial reaction to seeing that rumor being shared by a friend?"
• "What steps did you decide were absolutely necessary before even thinking about sharing or reporting that information?"
• "How important is the source of a rumor? Does it matter if it came from a friend versus a stranger? Why or why not?"
• "What are the dangers to your credibility if you share unverified information, even if it turns out to be true later?"

For Scenario 2: The Controversial Comment

• "How did your group feel about the offensive comment? What was your first thought on how to handle it?"
• "What are the pros and cons of deleting a comment versus leaving it up? How does each action reflect on you as a journalist?"
• "Does the fact that it's on your 'personal' account change your responsibility? Why or why not?"
• "How can you actively foster a respectful and inclusive environment on your social media, even when posting your news?"

For Scenario 3: The Anonymous Tip

• "This one's tricky. What were the biggest red flags for your group when receiving an anonymous tip like this?"
• "What specific actions would you take to try and verify both the information and the identity of the source, if possible?"
• "How do you balance the potential for a groundbreaking story with the high risk of false information and harm to individuals?"
• "What ethical obligations do you have to the teacher potentially involved in the scandal, even if the tip is unverified?"

Concluding the Discussion

Teacher Prompt: "Thank you all for sharing your insights. These are tough situations, and there aren't always easy answers. To wrap up, what were some common themes or best practices that emerged from our discussions today? What's the biggest takeaway you'll remember about being an ethical journalist on social media?"

(Encourage students to summarize key points like the importance of verification, protecting credibility, being transparent, and the potential harm of misinformation.)

Social Media Responsibility Worksheet

Instructions: Reflect on today's lesson about social media ethics in journalism. Answer the following questions thoughtfully, drawing from our discussion and activities.

1. Define in your own words: What does it mean for a journalist to be credible on social media, and why is this important for their work?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Accuracy Check: Imagine you see a trending news story on social media that seems too good (or too bad) to be true. As a journalist, what three steps would you take to verify its accuracy before even considering sharing it?

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3. Fairness in Sharing: You are reporting on a debate between two student groups. On social media, you notice many comments strongly supporting one side. How can you ensure your own social media posts about the debate demonstrate fairness to both sides?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Transparency Matters: Why is transparency important when a journalist uses social media? Provide an example of how a journalist might be transparent in a post.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Personal vs. Professional: We discussed that even your personal social media can impact your professional reputation as a journalist. Describe a hypothetical situation where a post on a journalist's personal social media account could negatively affect their professional standing and credibility. What could they have done differently?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. Your Role as a Digital Citizen: Beyond journalism, how does understanding social media ethics help you be a more responsible digital citizen in your everyday life?