ABSTRACT
Ethics involves defining the acceptable values of the individual, organization, profession, and society and using those values as a basis of human behavior. An ethical journalist is usually spelled out in aspirational codes created by journalism associations. Any discussion of journalism ethics must include the role of the First Amendment. The informative role is essential in a democracy for citizens to play their proper role in their government and for their individual well-being. Ethical problems are not exclusive to journalists. Public officials, lawyers, doctors, the clergy, law enforcement professionals, scientists, and educators all encounter ethical dilemmas. Agenda-setting allows the media to call attention to issues needing public attention that otherwise might go unaddressed. One of the newer ethical issues raised is the use of information from personal pages such as Facebook. Ethical issue related to elections that receives little journalistic attention concerns political support.
