Black, White and Grey

In South Africa, the debate about journalism ethics has taken particular turns in recent years. Issues of transformation and race have sparked heated debates in the profession, and there have been calls for the ethical codes of journalistic practice to be revisited, to bring them into line with the new South African reality. This title grew out of these discussions. Among other things, it attempts to measure the traditional standards of journalism against the demands of a changing society. The title is also intended to encourage journalists to take the time and trouble to explore ethical decision-making as a professional skill that is as important as any other. As the title suggests, the title reflects an approach which is prepared to see beyond simple black and white, and acknowledge shades of grey. Besides the discussion of various areas of ethics, the chapters contain a set of case studies drawn from real events. They also include talking points - short contributions by some of the most prominent people in South African journalism. They provide additional voices on the various areas, offering a different perspective or sometimes discussing the way an issue plays itself out in particular circumstances. The text is intended to be as practical as possible. The author has developed a tool to use when dealing with a particular dilemma - called the ethics roadmap. There is also a set of discussions and exercises that could be used in a classroom situation. Finally, a selection of codes has also been included - chiefly the industry codes used in print and broadcasting.