Pbs Learning Media: The Documentary: A Fragile Trust: Lesson Plan

This lesson explores the Jayson Blair story and other cases where journalists have breached the code of ethics in their efforts to get the story out. Students will examine the journalism code of ethics and its importance. They will view the film or selected video clips, and discuss the case and how the code of ethics applies. Students will examine several real cases of journalism ethics violations and make recommendations on how journalism organizations can protect themselves, their journalists and their audiences from ethical violations.