One of Journalism's Most Important Voices on Ethics Speaking at UK Today

“How to Be Ethical in the Age of Fake News,” the next program in the “Challenges to Journalism” series created by the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media, will feature one of the profession’s most important voices on ethics.

Andrew Seaman, the chair of the Ethics Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), will discuss how the assault on truth and the news media requires ethical behavior.

The program begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, in Woodward Hall in the Gatton College of Business and Economics. Light refreshments will be available before the event.

Seaman, the senior medical journalist for Reuters Health in New York City, served on the Ethics Committee when the Code of Ethics was revised during 2013-2014.

At the conclusion of the process, he was named the committee chairman. He led the effort to make the code interactive for the first time. Members of the Ethics Committee compiled supporting documents to expand the explanation of the code’s principles. The goal is to increase understanding, and therefore adherence, to the Code of Ethics.

“Ethical journalism is clearly defined by the SPJ Code of Ethics, a standard used throughout journalism,” said Lars Willnat, director of the School of Journalism and Media. “This is a great opportunity for our students and faculty to continue our discussion of the threats to journalism with one of the leading voices for ethical journalism.”

The program is being sponsored by the school, which is part of the UK College of Communication and Information, the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center, the UK chapter of the Society of Professional Journalism and the Bluegrass SPJ chapter.  

SPJ is the largest professional organization of U.S. journalists. It ethics code — available at www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp — has been translated into eight languages.

Before his current assignment with Reuters, Seaman covered health policy and the White House from its Washington, D.C., bureau. He was previously a contract writer with USA TODAY.

His undergraduate degree was earned at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. As a scholar at the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism, Seaman earned his master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City. He currently sits on its alumni board.