When I told people I taught media ethics at a university I often received funny looks. My standard reply: “It’s not an oxymoron.”

In this day of everyman as journalist — thanks to blogging — ethics are more important than ever.

During the NFPW conference, members recited the NFPW Code of Ethics. It’s a good reminder of our responsibilities.

As a professional communicator, I recognize my responsibility to the public which has places its trust and confidence in my work, and will endeavor to do nothing to abuse this obligation.

With truth as my ultimate goal, I will adhere to the highest standards of professional communication, never consciously misleading reader, viewer, or listener; and will avoid any compromiste of my objectivity or fairness.

Because I believe that professioanl communicators must be obligated only to the people’s right to know, I affirm that freedome of the press is to be guarded as an inalienable right of the citizens of a free society.

I pledge to use this freedom wisely and to uphold the right of communicators to express unpopular opinions as well as the right to agree with the majority.