R0002/2026-03-13/C011/SRC01¶
SPJ Code of Ethics
Source¶
Society of Professional Journalists. "SPJ Code of Ethics." SPJ.org. https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp. Accessed 2026-03-13.
URL: https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
Summary¶
| Dimension | Rating |
|---|---|
| Reliability | High |
| Relevance | High |
| Bias: Missing data | Low risk |
| Bias: Measurement | N/A — ethical code |
| Bias: Selective reporting | Low risk |
| Bias: Randomization | N/A — not an RCT |
| Bias: Protocol deviation | N/A — not an RCT |
| Bias: COI/Funding | Low risk |
Rationale¶
| Dimension | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Reliability | Primary source from the largest professional journalism organization in the United States. The SPJ Code of Ethics is the most widely referenced ethical standard in American journalism. |
| Relevance | Directly addresses the principles-based characterization in the claim. The code explicitly describes itself as principles, not rules or methodology. Exact topic match. |
| Bias flags | No concerns. Professional organization self-description. The code's self-characterization as principles-based is not subject to dispute — it is a definitional statement by the issuing organization. |
Evidence Extracts¶
| Evidence ID | Summary |
|---|---|
| SRC01-E01 | SPJ code is "not a set of rules, rather a guide" — voluntary, no enforcement |
| SRC01-E02 | No evidence hierarchy, uncertainty scale, or bias assessment domains in SPJ code |