Ethically speaking, we're doing OK

It’s Wednesday, so let’s discuss ethics.

I had a pleasant Cattle Dog chat Tuesday with a longtime friend who is very caught up in reading about the 491 mess. He, like many others, encouraged me to keep it going.

He also suggested a blog on journalistic ethics. “I think people would be very interested in the rules you live by,” my friend said.

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That’s always a challenging subject. I have my personal rules, but I don’t want to sound preachy. 

With that in mind, these are my ethics, OK? I’m not casting aspersions on anyone else. Also, know that occasionally I violate a rule. I’m not perfect. Stuff slips through here and there. 

This isn’t an exclusive list. But it covers the blog basics:

— Tell the truth. Don’t lie. Don’t manipulate the truth to support a lie. Be straight with people.

— Verify information. Usually, a document or government official takes care of that. If it’s something extremely sensitive, I double- and triple-check. If in the back of my mind I’m thinking, “That can’t be true,” listen to that voice. I link documents in the blog so that readers can form their own opinions.

That said, I rarely attribute information to another person. I decided very early in my blogging career that I would be the source of what’s said. When I print unattributed info, that’s to protect friends who wouldn’t speak openly with me if the whole world knew. The same verification rules apply. I try to avoid passing unsubstantiated rumors.

— When I make a mistake, correct it. On the blog, I’ve gotten into the habit of correcting the error with a “Mike note” in the exact spot where the error occurs. No one likes mistakes. Worse is acting like it never happened. Ignoring errors is an inexcusable exercise in pride.

— If someone else had the info first, give that publication credit. I can’t simply read an item in the newspaper and report it as if it originated with me. No, I need to say who reported it first. And unless the story is terribly written, I’ll link it. Credit should always go to the person or entity that said it first.

— Relationships. Oh boy, this is a biggie. We’re seeing some of that with the 491 mess. It’s simple but it’s not: Relationships do not supersede ethics. If a politician friend finds him/herself in a pickle, and it fits into my blog wheelhouse, I’m writing about it.

The pros understand that. We all have jobs to do and sometimes they conflict. It’s never personal. The mission comes first. It has to.

— Conflicts of interest. Tougher to spot than you’d think. After the 2022 campaign season, I quickly realized that taking campaign ads was a huge conflict of interest on a one-person blog. Other JWC advertising sponsors may have political affiliations, but it’s not remotely the same thing.

Conflicts of interest should be real, not imagined. I’m constantly aware to avoid conflicts.

— Fairness. That’s always in the eye of the beholder, but there’s plenty I can do to ensure fairness. For one, be fair. Obvious, right? That’s challenging in an opinion piece. Even after posting, I’m often up late changing phrases or removing words because my aim is complete fairness.

I also have a practice of talking with newsmakers before writing about them. Unless the subject matter occurred during a public meeting or I’m referring to public documents, it’s only right that a politician hears my viewpoint beforehand, so we can talk about it. Those Cattle Dog chats are vital to fairness.

I’m not naive. Despite all that, some readers perceive me as unfair on occasion. I can be a little pushy and sarcastic. If you’re a commissioner known for getting little done, I’m probably going to point that out more than is necessary. My friends are usually the ones who suggest when it’s time to back down.

— Finally, trust. It’s earned, and easily lost. All of these ethical rules come down to readers trusting that blogs are truthful, factual, fair, and with no conflicts of interest pushing an agenda outside the greater good of Citrus County. That’s my goal.

I’m not concerned with reputation. Just Wright Citrus has a mission to tell people things they should know and wouldn’t know if I didn’t tell them. That doesn’t come from reputation. It’s a relationship between blogger and reader, and that relationship is cemented in trust.

Please, and I cannot emphasize this enough, if you have an ethical question for me, just ask.

What a beautiful Wednesday! Enjoy it, friends.

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