TUFF Formula

Law and Ethics

TUFF Formula

Another tool for ethical scenario evaluation

TUFF Formula is from …

John Calhoun Merrill in “Journalism Ethics: Philosophical Foundations for News Media.”

TUFF Formula broken down

T: Truth U: F: F:

Truth

According to Merrill, journalists should not only seek the truth, but report it as thoroughly as possible as well.

TUFF Formula broken down

T: Truth U:Unbiased F: F:

Unbiased

According to Merrill, journalists should strive to be as impartial as possible, and they should strive to keep their bias out of the story.

TUFF Formula broken down

T: Truth U:Unbiased F: Full F:

Full

According to Merrill, stories should be as robust as possible. Journalists should strive to include as much pertinent information as possible in their stories.

TUFF Formula broken down

T: Truth U: Unbiased F: Full F: Fair

Fair

This one, according to Merrill, is more complicated. He breaks this concept down into three parts: • consequence-based ethics • subjectivity • responsibility

Consequence-based ethics

Consequences of the decision you make determines what is ethical.

Subjectivity

Journalists must evaluate all the values and loyalties involved in the story.

Responsibility

Journalists must be able to search for the entire, true story while keeping in mind the stakeholders involved.

Merrill has practical examples:

Protect confidential sources — if it’s off the record, keep it out of the public.

Provide sources right of reply — allow sources to reply to information you have.

More from Merrill

Be polite and compassionate with sources — especially when they aren’t use to working with the press Follow up on stories — show how sources have either improved upon the situation or solved the problem.

More from Merrill

Correct errors — if you have erred, fix the problem as soon as you can. Be complete and prominent in the correction.