Blog: Journalism or Abuse? Let’s Talk Professional Ethics

Ethical Journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous gathering, reporting, and interpreting information…throughout the life of the story (Society of Professional Journalist, 2020).

       Welcome to this week’s Blonde Intelligence with me, Ms. Roni, where I always seek to give you exquisite cranial repertoire. As you know I observe and watch…on this past week I have watched a series of vloggers and reactions to an interview where mental health was involved. The vlogger interviewed a person that had suffered from several episodes of mental and physical trauma. The vlogger felt that this form and style of questioning was okay in the name of journalism because she has claims of an inappropriate sexual violation as a child. Not the same degrees of trauma, but one trauma in common with the interviewee.

       Let us begin with going over a few key terms. According to Oxford, a vlogger is a person who posts short videos to a vlog. Oxford also provides a definition for journalist, which is a person who writes for a newspaper, magazine, news website, or prepares news for broadcast. Trauma-a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. Psychiatrist-a medical doctor that specializes in mental health. The National Public Radio: News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts: NPR describes the central job of journalism is to establish the facts and share as widely as possible. It is possible to be a journalist without a degree or specialized training, but not a psychiatrist, therapist, counselor, or nurse. So, we know that there is a distinct difference between journalism and mental health.

       One of the core foundations of Social and Behavioral Science is never practice beyond your scope of expertise. According to Findlaw.com it is illegal to intentionally inflict emotional distress if it meets three criterions. Intentional infliction of emotional distress is an intentional tort based on conduct so awful that it causes the victim extreme emotional trauma. The three elements of Intentional Emotional Infliction of Emotional Distress are (1) Extreme outrageous conduct that exceeds all bounds of decency. (2) The conduct was intentional or reckless and knew it would cause distress. (3) The conduct causes severe emotional distress. Example: victim developed migraines from the infliction of the distress caused intentionally.

The caveat was all these things happened, but the reaction from that particular victim did not show stress. The reaction came from all of the other thousands of victims…in the name of journalism?
In any situation if you or anyone is being emotionally abused Text: HELLO to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
​
Remember to Like, Share, Subscribe, and even Disagree with Ms. Roni’s Blonde Intelligence
Follow me @Ms.Blonde.Intelligence_Roni and subscribe to the podcast and video channels.