AAEA members, their publications and advertisers are showing signs of strengthening the role of editorial independence in today's commercial environment.
Report of comments by Nick Russell, retired professor of journalism ethics in Canada, at a meeting of print and broadcast journalists from across Canada.
Author emphasizes that codes of ethics need to be internalized throughout the publishing organization - considered and addressed daily. Points to a source of tips on how to incorporate ethics into the workplace effectively.
Cites journalism educator Don Ranley who urges maintaining the wall between editorial and advertising, in the interest of reader credibility. "I am not a businessman, but it has to be good business to be trusted."
Reports that focus group research among farm readers shows they want information that is not a commercial on the editorial pages they read. "Isn't it strange? The very credibility these folks crave is the first thing to disappear when publishers agree to relax their standards."
