With disputes and condemnations over coverage of the mayhem in Gaza, it is worth considering the ethics of journalism. Whether or not generally accepted rules are followed by media is a subjective evaluation. But I believe there has been a general decline in ethical behaviour as ownership of mass communications has concentrated in the hands of financial elites.

Access to power has grown too important for many journalists and their publishers. It blunts the effectiveness of their work.

Consider, Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jamal Khashoggi—all journalists with a profile, all brazenly killed in broad daylight. Their murders dominated the front pages of international publications. But their killers, men in power, remain unquestioned not just by the authorities but often by publishers and editors who develop a comfortable amnesia when meeting those in power. They do not want to lose access to them.

Almendron.com: We should stop calling journalists “brave”

Ethical Journalism Network director Aidan White describes the five values which are the foundation of ethical journalism:

1. Accuracy
2. Independence
3. Impartiality
4. Humanity
5. Accountability

Press Watch editor Dan Froomkin criticizes reporting about the USA’s new Speaker of the House of Representatives. He particularly dislikes the failure of journalists to describe positions as radical when, by any measure, they are radical.

In their lead stories, Johnson’s political views were summed up with words like “staunch conservative,” (AP) “conservative hardliner” and “religious conservative” (New York Times), and “lesser-known conservative” (Washington Post).

Here are some terms that accurately describe Johnson and the modern Republican Party (in alphabetical order):

Here are some terms that accurately describe Johnson and the modern Republican Party (in alphabetical order):

• Anti-democratic
• Authoritarian
• Bigoted
• Christofascist
• Cultish
• Dictatorial
• Fascist
• Know-nothing
• Misogynistic
• Nationalist
• Racist
• Reactionary
• Theocratic
• Totalitarian

…I would submit that at the very least, “radical” and “extremist” should be used instead of “conservative” to describe Johnson and his party.

…So journalists: When writing about incremental Republican actions, you should clearly contextualize them as “right out of the authoritarian playbook.”

You should then explain what the playbook calls for, which is a lot, and includes:

• Inciting political violence
• Consolidating power
• Eroding civil rights
• Eroding voting rights
• Demonizing minorities
• Demonizing immigrants
• Demanding loyalty
• Quashing dissent
• Attacking academics
• Corruption to benefit a kleptocracy
• Imprisonment of political opponents
• Control of the judiciary
• Claiming victimization
• Targeting media
• Control of social media

As Republicans embrace theocratic authoritarianism, the political media is tongue-tied

According to Boston College history Professor Heather Cox Richardson, Dan Froomkin has explored how news organizations fail to communicate that we are on a knife edge between democracy and authoritarianism. Given the stakes, people who value democracy must demand more from journalists.