Final answer:
A journalist can avoid conflicts of interest by disclosing them, refraining from reporting on certain topics, and maintaining professional boundaries. Protections for journalists during controversial reporting are debated, including whether these should apply to bloggers. The balance between pressures and journalistic integrity is crucial, and regulations guiding lobbyists focus on transparency and accountability.
Step-by-step explanation:
A journalist can ensure avoidance of conflicts of interest by disclosing potential conflicts, refraining from reporting on certain topics, and maintaining professional boundaries. Option (d) All of the above is the correct choice. Such measures help preserve the integrity of journalism and the trust of the public. When reporting on controversial topics, legal protections for journalists are often debated. Working journalists are given certain protections due to the vital role they play in informing the public and acting as watchdogs. Whether these protections should extend to amateur bloggers is contentious because the professionalism and accountability of bloggers may not be on par with trained journalists.
Journalists manage the conflict between government and commercial pressures by staying committed to their ethical standards and serving the public interest. For example, Jennifer Hasty's account might provide insights into how journalists navigate these pressures. Historical practices, such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's informal agreements with journalists, demonstrate past methods of managing media relations. The media, acting as an agenda setter, primarily decides which issues deserve public attention.
In the context of U.S. foreign policy, the goals include keeping the country safe, securing access to foreign markets, and protecting human rights. This reflects the multi-faceted nature of foreign policy, encompassing option (D) all the above. The practice of muckraking typifies investigative journalism, where newspapers delve deeply into problems in government and business. To avoid bias by selection of sources, journalists should ensure a balance in the political perspectives of their sources and experts.
Lobbyists are regulated through prohibitions of certain activities and the requirement for disclosure of contributions. These regulations are designed to maintain transparency and accountability in the lobbying process.