Informed Consent

Definition

Informed consent is the process through which individuals voluntarily agree to participate in research or provide information, having been fully informed of the nature, risks, and implications of their participation. This principle is crucial for ethical storytelling, ensuring that subjects are aware of how their stories will be used and that their rights are respected.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Informed consent requires that journalists explain the purpose of their work and how the information will be used, allowing subjects to make an educated decision about their participation.
2. It is not just a one-time agreement; informed consent can be an ongoing process where sources can withdraw their consent at any time.
3. Obtaining informed consent helps build trust between journalists and sources, which is essential for effective storytelling and rapport.
4. Different types of informed consent may apply depending on the context, including verbal agreements for informal interviews or written forms for more formal research.
5. Failure to obtain informed consent can lead to ethical breaches, legal issues, and harm to both sources and journalists’ reputations.

Review Questions

• How does informed consent differentiate narrative journalism from traditional reporting practices?
  • Informed consent emphasizes transparency and ethical responsibility in narrative journalism, distinguishing it from traditional reporting where consent may not always be prioritized. Narrative journalism often seeks to engage deeply with subjects’ stories, necessitating a clear understanding between journalists and participants about how their narratives will be portrayed. This process fosters trust and allows sources to feel more secure about sharing their personal experiences.
• What are the key ethical considerations regarding informed consent when representing characters in narrative journalism?
  • Key ethical considerations include ensuring that characters are fully aware of how their stories will be told and the potential implications of that representation. Journalists must avoid manipulating narratives to fit a particular agenda without the characters' consent. Moreover, ongoing communication is essential to respect characters' autonomy and address any concerns they may have about how their story unfolds in public.
• Evaluate the consequences of neglecting informed consent in narrative journalism, especially regarding legal implications and relationships with sources.
  • Neglecting informed consent can lead to serious legal ramifications such as defamation lawsuits or breach of privacy claims if individuals feel misrepresented. Additionally, it can severely damage relationships with sources, eroding trust and discouraging future collaboration. This disregard for ethical principles can undermine the integrity of narrative journalism as a field, potentially leading to a broader distrust among the public towards journalists and their work.

Related terms

Confidentiality: The ethical duty to protect the privacy of individuals by not disclosing their personal information without permission.

Ethical Journalism: A commitment to fairness, accuracy, and integrity in reporting, which includes obtaining informed consent from sources.

Narrative Ethics: The study of ethical issues that arise in the telling of stories, especially those involving real people and sensitive topics.