University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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Experience Becomes Ethics Writer: Robert Lee Photographers: Logan Webster, Robert Lee Designer: Resa Sebastian T he University of Arkansas Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism expanded during the Fall 2013 semester to join the ranks of Oregon, Wisconsin and Kent State, becoming just the fourth university in the country to include in its program a Center for Ethics in Journalism. Spearheaded by members of the Department of Journalism Dr. Patsy Watkins and Professor Gerald Jordan, the center also received a great deal of guidance from visiting Distinguished Professor Gene Foreman. Foreman had been in the news industry since the 1950s and bore witness to its evolution first hand. In his early days, the industry was dominated by television and print. However, advancements in technology such as the advent of the Internet posed many new ethical issues that needed answering. Although a general consensus on many early ethics issues had been reached among journalists, the First Amendment had always hindered journalists from establishing an industry-wide code. Don ' t get me wrong, the First Amendment is a good thing, Foreman said. The industry has matured a lot since I started, [but] the digital age has had a profound effect. These challenges were precisely what the new Center for Ethics meant to meet head on. Discussing the features of the center, Foreman explained how it was going to fight technology with technology. The website is the centerpiece, Foreman said. Foreman oversaw the website ' s construction with the help of graduate students Libbi Heinz and Kristin Odell. Its function was to compile ethics related material into a single source and make it available to interested students, professors and professionals throughout the country. Major goals of the center included establishing ethics as a graduate requirement for journalism majors and continuing the use of visiting professors after Foreman left with a new professor each fall semester. The center also held public forums where panels comprised of industry professionals lead discussions on hot-button ethics issues. The inaugural forum occurred on November 8, 2013 at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development. It focused heavily on issues concerning social media juggernauts Twitter and Facebook. When asked if he used Twitter, Foreman answered to the contrary. Referring to its lack of oversight, accountability and potential for misreporting breaking news. Foreman said he did use Facebook to keep up with family, friends and colleagues. Foreman worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer for 25 years as manager of newsroom operations until he retired in 1998. Before that he made stops at Newsday and the New York Times. Foreman was also the managing editor at the Pine Bluff Commercial, worked at the Arkansas Democrat as managing editor and worked at the Arkansas Gazette as a reporter and assignment editor. After journalism, Foreman taught journalism ethics at Pennsylvania State University for nine years until retiring again in 2006. His textbook, The Ethical Journalist: Making Responsible Decisions in the Pursuit of News, was published by Wiley-Blackwell in 2009. HOC SEPTEMBER U O GENE FOREMAN

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SEPTEMBER nO 7 VOLLEYBALL

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A PANEL OF JOURNALISM PROFESSIONALS answered questions on ethics issues during the inaugural Center for Ethics in Journalism forum held at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise and Development. SEPTEMBER nOO GENE FOREMAN