Business Code of Ethics Every organization should have a code of ethics in place as a guide to follow for their business. The code of ethics should address the main components that are important for the particular business needs. The Society of Professional Journalists has a code of ethics that guides journalists towards appropriate reporting methods and protocols that are intended to ensure that fact-based journalism is the outcome conveyed to the community. The code of ethics consists of four main areas which include seeking the truth, minimizing harm, acting independently and accountability. Journalists should be held accountable to the established code of ethics by following an investigative system used to retrieve information and a plan to implement the system. Journalists' Code of Ethics Journalism practiced without a code of ethics can be seriously contaminated by false information. A journalist is responsible for reporting truthful information. The community has the right to receive accurate and impartial information. In a perfect situation, the journalist will report factual information that allows the listener or reader to develop their own opinion on how to interpret the information. According to professional journalists, you need to be “honest, honest and courageous when collecting, reporting and interpreting information”. News sources should be identified whenever possible and the journalist should question the sources' motives. Images or videos must never be distorted or misleading. As with any written or oral report, plagiarism is not tolerated. Stereotyping of any kind is discouraged and an ethical journalist will distinguish between news and advertising. When the media spreads inaccurate information... in the middle of the paper... the community will begin to trust the information provided to them from these places. Conclusion In conclusion, it is imperative for any company to develop and implement a code of ethics to guide the company's path; however, it is equally important to create a plan in which the code and its users are carefully monitored. The integrity of a company and its users is vital to the overall success of the company as a whole. Journalism is a great example of a business that can thrive or fail as a direct result of using or not using a code of ethics alongside a quality assurance plan. Businesses should be held accountable for the integrity of their product and penalized for failing to adhere to a collective code of ethics for the marketplace. References Code of Ethics. (2008) retrieved November 2, 2008, from http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp