Ethical Journalists Emerge from Edge Hill

Tonight Channel 4 will air a controversial documentary that will show the late Princess of Wales in her final moments. But does this programme exemplify what journalists stand for or could a new breed of graduates from Edge Hill University change that long-standing perception?

For years the stereotypical image of journalists has been of a crooked newspaper hack. But all of that is to be transformed thanks to a brand of ethical teaching, which makes students question what they write.

The BA (Hons) Journalism course at Edge Hill University is trying to remove its students from the cliched image of journalists who were famously written off as "drinking in the last chance saloon" after their relationship with politicians hit an all time low in the 1980s.

The debate surrounding ethics and morality in the media is at the forefront of the news agenda at the moment. Channel 4 is to screen previously unseen images of the Princess of Wales receiving oxygen from a French doctor moments after the crash.

Questions have been raised as to what purpose showing the images will have?

Angela Birchall, Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Edge Hill University, said: "Ten years ago everyone in the world wanted to see these pictures, but we have to question whether this is in the public's interest to show these images or is it something which merely interests the public?"

As a former newspaper editor, Angela had doubts if she would have published the pictures herself: "We now live in a commercial world and I think that as an editor it would be a very difficult decision to make. I think it would depend a lot on whether I worked for a big corporate publication or a smaller independent one."

Although a number of newspapers refused to publish pictures taken by the paparazzi many still operate in the same way, which has caused concern for many. Angela added: "They are never going to go away as long as there is a demand for this kind of picture, they are fuelled by it."

As part of Edge Hill?s journalism course all students are taught that they must continuously look at the balance between making profit and increasing readership as well the ethical standards that are required of journalists.

Angela said: "All of our tutors try and question students as much as possible on the ethical debate, after all journalists are one of the least trusted professions in the country and that is something we have to change."

Over the past few decades Edge Hill University has produced a number of graduates that have made it big after graduation, they include music journalist, Stuart Maconie and BBC North West News presenter Mark Edwardson.

The BA (Hons) Journalism course lasts three years and is highly regarded by the industry after it was accredited with the NCTJ certification. All students undertake a number of modules, which range from shorthand to newspaper law and reporting on the Government.