Journalism Ethics

noun a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically made without proof

• The police are currently investigating the allegation of fraud against the company.
• I heard about the allegation that he cheated on the exam.
• I can't believe the allegation that she stole my phone!
• The allegation of corruption cast a dark shadow over the politician's reputation.

noun a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something

• The politician vehemently denied the calumny spread by his opponents.
• Don't believe the calumny that's being spread about her, it's all lies.
• I heard some calumny going around about him, but I don't pay attention to gossip.
• The calumny against her reputation was like a dark cloud hanging over her.

noun an official summons to appear before a court

• The author provided a citation for each reference in the research paper.
• Make sure to include a citation for that quote in your essay.
• Dude, you forgot to add a citation for that information!
• In the court of public opinion, a citation from a reliable source can make or break an argument.

noun the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel

• The company is suing for defamation after false information was spread about their products.
• She was spreading lies about him, that's defamation!
• Don't listen to her, she's just talking smack - it's all defamation.
• His reputation was shattered, like a glass hitting the ground, by the defamation.

verb to damage the reputation of someone by making false statements about them

• It is illegal to defame someone's character through false accusations.
• Don't defame others with rumors and gossip.
• She's always trying to defame people to make herself look better.
• His actions defame the reputation of the entire organization.

noun the state of being false or untrue; the quality of not being accurate or correct

• The defense attorney presented evidence to prove the falsity of the witness's testimony.
• I can't believe the falsity of that rumor going around school.
• Don't listen to him, he's just spreading falsity to stir up drama.
• The artist used abstract shapes and colors to represent the falsity of reality.

noun information that is not based on personal knowledge or observation, but rather on what someone else has said

adjective related to or consisting of hearsay

• The judge ruled that the evidence presented was hearsay and therefore inadmissible in court.
• I wouldn't trust that information, it's just hearsay from someone who heard it from someone else.
• Don't believe everything you hear, it's probably just hearsay.
• The rumors spreading around the office were like a game of telephone, turning into exaggerated hearsay.

noun the quality of being fair and unbiased

• The judge's impartiality in the case ensured a fair trial for all parties involved.
• It's important for a referee to show impartiality during the game.
• Don't be biased, try to keep some impartiality in your decision-making.
• In order to make sound decisions, it's crucial to maintain a sense of impartiality and not let emotions cloud your judgment.

adjective not able to communicate with others

adverb in a state of not being able to communicate with others

• The suspect was held incommunicado while awaiting trial.
• I haven't heard from my friend in days, she's gone incommunicado.
• He went incommunicado after his breakup, not responding to anyone.
• The artist went incommunicado to focus on his work and avoid distractions.

adjective a term used to describe a statement that is false and damaging to someone's reputation

• The journalist was sued for writing a libelous article about the politician.
• I can't believe she posted such a libelous comment online.
• Don't spread those libelous rumors about her, it's not cool.
• Her words were like a libelous dagger, piercing his reputation.

noun the state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, etc.; impartiality

• Maintaining neutrality in international conflicts is crucial for diplomacy.
• It's best to stay neutral when your friends are arguing to avoid taking sides.
• I try to keep things neutral when my parents ask about my weekend plans.
• The artist's use of neutral colors created a sense of calm and neutrality in the painting.

adjective Deserving censure or condemnation; blameworthy.

• The judge deemed the defendant's actions to be reprehensible and sentenced him to prison.
• I can't believe you did something so reprehensible, it's really disappointing.
• That was a totally reprehensible move, dude.
• His behavior was like a dark cloud of reprehensible actions hanging over the company.

noun a style of writing or communication that is intended to provoke excitement or interest by exaggerating facts or using shocking language

• The journalist was accused of using sensationalism in his reporting to attract more readers.
• I don't trust that news source, they're always full of sensationalism.
• The tabloids are known for their sensationalism, but people still buy them.
• The movie's plot was full of sensationalism, making it an entertaining watch.

noun a place, person, or thing from which something comes or can be obtained; a spring or fountain

verb to obtain from a particular source

• It is important to properly cite your sources in academic writing.
• Can you tell me where you got that information from?
• I heard it through the grapevine, but I'm not sure about the source.
• She is the source of all my inspiration.

adjective describing a lack of bias or prejudice; fair and impartial

• The research study was conducted in an unbiased manner to ensure accurate results.
• I always try to give unbiased opinions when my friends ask for advice.
• It's hard to find unbiased news sources these days.
• She approached the situation with an unbiased perspective, seeing all sides of the argument.

noun a person or thing that has not been confirmed or verified

adjective describing something that has not been proven or verified

• The information provided is currently unconfirmed and requires further verification.
• We heard a rumor about the new project, but it's unconfirmed at this point.
• I saw a post on social media about the party, but it's still unconfirmed.
• The truth behind the legend remains unconfirmed, adding to its mystique.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'uncorroborated' describes something that lacks evidence or support

• The witness testimony was deemed uncorroborated and therefore not admissible as evidence.
• They couldn't prove it because the story was uncorroborated.
• That rumor is totally uncorroborated, don't believe everything you hear.
• Her claims of being a distant relative of royalty were uncorroborated, just a fantasy.

noun the action of revealing the true identity or nature of someone or something

• The detective's unmasking of the criminal was a key moment in solving the case.
• I can't wait to see the unmasking of the mystery celebrity on the reality show.
• The gossip blog promised an unmasking of the latest scandal in Hollywood.
• The artist's use of light and shadow creates an unmasking effect, revealing the true emotion behind the subject's face.

adjective describing something that has not been proven or supported by evidence

• The claim made by the witness was deemed unsubstantiated by the court.
• I heard an unsubstantiated rumor about the new project at work.
• Don't believe everything you hear, it's probably just unsubstantiated gossip.
• Her dreams of becoming a famous singer were ultimately unsubstantiated.

noun a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate, well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers

• Yellow journalism refers to the practice of sensationalizing news stories to attract readership.
• I heard that newspaper is full of yellow journalism, always exaggerating the headlines.
• Don't believe everything you read in those tabloids, it's all just yellow journalism.
• His speeches were filled with yellow journalism, twisting the truth to fit his agenda.

noun a barrier or partition that is used to separate two areas or to prevent communication between them, often used in a metaphorical sense in the context of business or law

• The concept of a Chinese wall is important in preventing conflicts of interest within financial institutions.
• We need to set up a Chinese wall between our work and personal lives to maintain a healthy balance.
• I heard they're building a Chinese wall around the new club to keep out unwanted guests.
• The emotional distance between them felt like a Chinese wall that couldn't be breached.

noun the state or quality of being pseudonymous; the practice of using a pseudonym or false name

adjective relating to or characterized by the use of a pseudonym

• Pseudonymity is the practice of using a fake name or identity online to protect one's privacy.
• Using a pseudonymity is a common way to stay anonymous on the internet.
• Some people use pseudonymity to avoid being tracked online.
• In the world of online gaming, pseudonymity allows players to create alter egos and personas.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

• The company engaged in a catch and kill strategy to prevent the release of damaging information.
• They tried to catch and kill the story before it spread.
• They were caught red-handed trying to catch and kill the evidence.
• Sometimes we have to catch and kill our doubts before they hold us back.

noun the edited or prepared version of written material

• The legal team is currently working on the redaction of sensitive information from the document.
• I'm just going to do a quick redaction of some names before sending you the file.
• I'll just black out the names with a sharpie for the redaction.
• She practiced the art of redaction in her personal life, carefully editing out negativity and focusing on positivity.

verb to describe or portray someone or something in a way that is not accurate or true

• It is important not to mischaracterize the facts in your research paper.
• Don't mischaracterize what she said, just tell the truth.
• Don't twist the story and mischaracterize what really happened.
• You can't mischaracterize a diamond as just a regular rock.

noun a visit made by a journalist or reporter to the home of someone who has recently died in order to obtain a news story

• The journalist went to the family's home to conduct a death knock and gather information for the news story.
• I heard that the reporters are planning to do a death knock on the deceased's family.
• The media is always looking for a juicy death knock to sensationalize.
• The company's poor financial performance was like a death knock for its investors.

noun a person who compromises their principles or values for personal gain, especially in intellectual or academic pursuits

• The academic community strongly condemns any individual who acts as an intellectual prostitute by selling their expertise for personal gain.
• I can't believe she's willing to be an intellectual prostitute just to get ahead in her career.
• He's such an intellectual prostitute, always spewing out whatever opinion will get him the most attention.
• Selling out your principles for money is the ultimate act of being an intellectual prostitute.