ABSTRACT
Existing codes are helpful, however, as the people try to sketch at least the broad outlines of their personal code of ethics, their personal definition of what the people will do as a journalist and what they won't. The sports editors' guidelines strike first — and hardest — at a tradition in sports journalism of accepting favors from teams. Resonating throughout journalism’s discussion of ethics are societal values accepted by most of the reader as characteristics of civilized society. There is no single truth in ethics or, certainly, no formula that automatically yields decisions on right and wrong. Libertarianism holds that the people are capable of making rational, intelligent decisions if informed sufficiently well. The US Supreme Court has ruled that reporters can be compelled to testify in criminal cases if their testimony is essential to an accused's defense even in states with shield laws. State press associations are excellent sources of background on state open-records laws.
