tuff-formula-slideshow

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.