The main guardian of professional standards in journalism is the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). They provide a code of ethics that journalists are encouraged to uphold, promoting accuracy, transparency, and respect for the profession.

Ethics in journalism refers to the principles and standards that guide journalists in their work, ensuring accuracy, fairness, transparency, and respect for the truth. It includes values such as honesty, integrity, objectivity, and independence, as well as a commitment to minimizing harm and avoiding conflicts of interest. Adhering to ethical guidelines is crucial for maintaining the trust of the public and upholding the credibility of journalism as a profession.

Journalism courses typically include:

Reporting

Writing

Editing

Page Layout and Design

Online Journalism

Graphics

Photography

Videography

Law

Advertising

Ethics

History of Journalism

Individual ethics are standards a person places on themselves. Some call this their personal code. These are standards the person follows in addition to the standards that society dictates.

Joint ethics regulations provide detailed procedures for reporting suspected violations of government ethics or standards.