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Journalism & Media vocabulary · Media Ethics and Law

Conflict of interest

Meaning in journalism & media, with examples

nounCommon term

In journalism & media, conflict of interest means: A situation in which a journalist's personal, financial or family interests could influence, or seem to influence, how they report a story.

In Turkish: çıkar çatışması

How it is used

Ethics codes ask journalists to avoid or declare conflicts of interest, for example owning shares in a company they cover or reporting on a relative. Accepting gifts or free trips can also create one.

Example sentences

  1. He stepped away from the story because his brother works for the company, a clear conflict of interest.

  2. Please declare any conflict of interest before you accept the assignment.

Common collocations

  • declare a conflict of interest
  • avoid a conflict of interest
  • potential conflict of interest
  • clear conflict of interest
  • biasAn unfair preference for or against a person, group or idea that affects how a story is chosen, written or presented.
  • objectivityThe principle of reporting facts as they are, without letting the journalist's own feelings, opinions or interests shape the story.
  • plagiarismUsing another person's words, ideas, research or images and presenting them as your own without giving credit.
  • accuracyThe quality of being correct in every fact, name, number and quote, which is the first duty of a journalist in most codes of practice.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Media Ethics and Law

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