Perceived ethical conflicts in US documentary filmmaking: a field report

Abstract

The documentary genre in film makes distinctive claims to honesty and truth. While filmmakers do not promise objectivity and balance, and while they all recognize that all expression is crafted and not a simple mirror of reality, the form is defined by its claim to say something honestly about something that really happened. Filmmakers' ethical judgments implicitly or explicitly revolve around this defining feature of the genre (Aufderheide, Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007). This paper discusses the results of a study on how documentary filmmakers in the USA perceive what common ethical challenges are, and how these filmmakers commonly address those challenges in the absence of a formally articulated code of ethics or shared institutional regulations. Ethics is considered as the application of general moral precepts within professional practice.

Keywords:

• documentary film
• ethics
• cable

Notes

For instance:

•SPJ Code of Ethics: ‘Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty.’ ‘Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.’

•RTDNA: ‘Professional electronic journalists should recognize that their first obligation is to the public.’ ‘Professional electronic journalists should recognize that they are accountable for their actions to the public, the profession, and themselves.’

•FRONTLINE: ‘In the pursuit of truthful information, the producer must be sensitive to issues of fairness if the program is to have credibility. Truth is an elusive combination of fact and opinion, of reason and experience. We ask for the viewer's trust. In turn, we promise that the subject matter and the people in the program will be treated fairly.’

•CPB: ‘Public confidence in the integrity of news media is anchored in the independence of the news media from the events, people, and organizations about which they report. News consumers are entitled to the assurance that there are no hidden financial, organizational, political, or other such ties between media and the objects and subjects of news coverage that could impair or extinguish the disinterest and independence that is essential for the fulfillment of the promise of the First Amendment. Public confidence relies not only on the public's perception of independence, but the actual daily practice of independence by reporters, editors, and producers who bring news to listeners and viewers’ (Independence and Integrity II: The Updated Ethics Guide for Public Radio Journalism at 3).

•IRW: ‘High-quality journalism devoted to providing oversight of powerful public and private institutions is vital to a free society. We define “high-quality” to include not only excellent tradecraft, but also excellence in decision-making that reflects the ideals of transparency and accountability to all our stakeholders’ (IRW Workshop Ethics at 2).

For instance:

•SPJ: ‘Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error.’ ‘Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.’

•RTDNA: ‘Present analytical reporting based on professional perspective, not personal bias.’

•FRONTLINE: ‘In matters of fairness there is one specific requirement: all producers must have a fact-checking procedure at the completion of the program in which every line of narration and synch and every picture is checked for the accuracy of any factual assertion.’ ‘It should be the objective of the editing process to collect and order all significant facts in a manner that fairly portrays the reality.’

•CPB: ‘Regardless of what you call it, reporting that is fair, accurate and balanced is true to the journalistic ideal. Such reporting filters out bias in the traditional spirit of objectivity, while allowing reporters to draw upon their personal insight and engagement with the stories they cover. It results in the healthy skepticism that marks the best of public radio journalism’ (Independence and Integrity II: The Updated Ethics Guide for Public Radio Journalism at 7).

•IRW: ‘Our highest value is accuracy. This does not merely mean that we get our facts straight, but that we also expect our work to provide context, meaning and understanding’ (IRW Workshop Ethics at 2).

For instance:

•SPJ: ‘Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.’

•RTDNA: ‘Resist any self-interest or peer pressure that might erode journalistic duty and service to the public.’ ‘Explain journalistic processes to the public, especially when practices spark questions or controversy.’

•FRONTLINE: ‘In general, a person whose participation or cooperation in a documentary production is sought should know the identity of the producer and why the producer is seeking the person's involvement.’

•CPB: ‘Our journalism should be “transparent” and accountable – that is, we share with our listeners our policies and practices, and discuss how we resolve thorny ethical problems. (Our Web sites offer an opportunity to present material, and we should use the airwaves to direct listeners to this information. As an example, see the Public Radio Collaboration's Editorial Standards)’ (Independence and Integrity II: The Updated Ethics Guide for Public Radio Journalism at 10).

•IRW: ‘Just as we seek to shed light on the activities of powerful institutions, we believe that we must be willing to share information about ourselves.’ ‘Because of our values of transparency and accountability, we will seek to limit the use of unidentified sources’ (IRW Workshop Ethics at 2).

•CBS: ‘Misrepresentation should be avoided in gathering the news’ (CBS News Standards (1999) at II-5).

For instance:

•SPJ: ‘Deliberate distortion is never permissible.’

•RTDNA: ‘Professional electronic journalists should not: *Report anything known to be false. *Manipulate images or sounds in any way that is misleading.’

•FRONTLINE: ‘Since publication of truthful, accurate information is the prime mission of our nonfiction national programs, it should be clear that willful misrepresentation or falsification of program content will be considered unprofessional conduct and will carry the severest consequences.’

•CPB: ‘Accuracy and reliability are at the heart of journalism, presenting information that's correct and in context.’ ‘The very act of reporting a claim on public radio may confer upon it a sense of legitimacy. We should not broadcast information from untrustworthy sources; this entails believing that our source is in a position to know, understanding their motivation, and concluding that their information is of interest or value to our listeners’ (Independence and Integrity II: The Updated Ethics Guide for Public Radio Journalism at 10).

•IRW: ‘We will not tolerate fabrication or plagiarism’ (IRW Workshop Ethics at 2).

For instance:

•SPJ: ‘Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.’ ‘Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.’ ‘Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.’

•RTDNA: ‘Seek to understand the diversity of their community and inform the public without bias or stereotype.’ ‘Present a diversity of expressions, opinions, and ideas in context.’

•FRONTLINE: ‘[P]roducers … will approach stories with an open and skeptical mind and a determination, through extensive research, to acquaint themselves with a wide range of viewpoints.’ ‘When there are conflicting viewpoints or opinions on subjects treated within a journalistic program, fairness does not require that equal time be accorded to conflicting opinions. However, it does require the acknowledgment of, and responsible statement of, those conflicting opinions.’

•CPB: ‘Journalistic fairness also extends to our listeners. We recognize their right to information that is as complete as possible, and we should present the news in a way that offers context and perspective. This includes providing information on how sources may have an interest in the outcome of an issue, and emphasizing when information cannot be confirmed’ (Independence and Integrity II: The Updated Ethics Guide for Public Radio Journalism at 10).

•IRW: ‘We reject the notion that “fairness and balance” require us to simply give equal weight to two “opposing” sides. Instead, we seek to fairly represent the full range of ideas and opinions that exist around complex matters in public affairs’ (IRW Workshop Ethics at 2).