“What are the ethical considerations that journalists must take into account before publishing content online?”

What are ethics? Ethics falls under one of the seven pillars of philosophy. Ethics also knew as moral principles are understood to be principles that govern behavior and allow us to differentiate between right and wrong. What is journalism? Journalism is the process of gathering, evaluating creating, and presenting news, in most fields of interest. Journalism is essential in everyday life because it is a form of communication that keeps us informed. We can then say that journalism exists to assist individuals in making informed decisions, and with that sort of power comes responsibility and this is where ethics come to play.
 Journalists cannot always guarantee that the information provided is considered the truth. What can be taken into consideration is that the information provided would have to be backed by facts, research, and reliable sources. Therefore making the story credible even when it is uncomfortable. Journalists must always strive for accuracy and transparency which will assist in building credibility, especially in the digital era. 
Journalism is guided by applied ethics which can best be described as a practical application of morals in various fields. Applied ethics is the practice of applying ethical theory in the professional/ cooperate world to any given situation. In theory, agreeing on ethical journalism is easy, but applying them in real life is harder. Because the goal to reveal the truth can sometimes prove to be a lot more difficult than anticipated.
 First, we must consider that there has always been a core concept or outline on what ethics are in the world of journalism and how they guide the profession, but as journalism moves into the digital space ethics that had previously guided the field can no longer be applied in the same manner. As these changes take place journalists must make ensure that they are able to adapt and morph their stories and concepts to the platform that they are presented on. Fully embracing change reassures the consumers of said information that the writer is reliable. The digital world is vast and full of information, journalists must be able to navigate and use it effectively and responsibly. They can do that by effectively applying ethics that are tailored to fit the business/ media house vision. What does universal online ethical Journalism Look Like in Practice?
The first most important principle that should be put into practice is no plagiarism. With the vast information that the internet and social media platforms provide it is easy for journalists or any other individuals who are interested in providing the public with information to manipulate information and passing it as their own. It is important that journalist or writers should draw their own conclusion and that they link the source of information. This creates transparency which then translates to reliability.
The second would be accountability, journalists must be held accountable by themselves media house or the public for the information they put out on any platforms. A journalist shows true commitment and professionalism when they are able to correct themselves when they have published or made allegations that have been proven to be false. They must also be able to express regret sincerely and also show a willingness to learn from their mistake and take into consideration the feelings and reactions of the audience.
The third would be accuracy. In cyber journalism, space accuracy is paramount to speed. The internet and social media have turned breaking news into a salad of rumors of false allegations and false reports. Therefore making it harder for audiences to receive and understand the truth. Even when there is information that is widely available to the public a journalist must always check for accuracy in their story because being right is better than speed.
The fourth is transparency. Being a writer or journalist in the cyber space requires transparency, this ensures that no reputations whether it be of publications or personal be tarnished. When news or information is collected from other news agencies that must be disclosed by the individual who is putting the information to work.
At the core of journalism lies the responsibility to provide people with fair news that have no underlying agenda or motives. This means that journalists must have an independent voice although guided by the rules of their media house they are still ethically bound to not push any agendas. Whether it be for business, politics, religion, or race and personal or professional gain.

Journalists although tasked with difficult responsibilities should ensure or weigh the harm that the work published would do. Journalists must be cognisant of the impact their work has on themselves and others.
When writing a story especially online one must be aware that a story has two sides to it. It is the responsibility of a journalist to ensure that both sides are heard and understood. Even though there is no obligation to present every side of a story the story should at least be able to balance itself out. Being impartial ensures that a journalist is viewed as trustworthy and objective to a certain degree
No matter what the platform, the primary mission of journalism is to provide information that gives meaning and context to the events that shape our lives, our communities, and our world. In doing so, we hold powerful interests accountable and remain true to our mission of public service through fair and accurate reporting.
Even as the manner in which news is reported has evolved around the years, the core of journalism still remains the same, and that is to provide readers with credible news. Navigating new age journalism might prove to be difficult but it is certainly not impossible. As platforms provided to report news change so do some of the ethics that govern journalism. Link to work referenced. https://www.jdlasica.com/journalism/what-are-the-ethical-rules-of-online-journalism/ https://www.gotquestions.org/applied-ethics. htmlhttps://books.google.co.za/books/about/Media_Ethics_in_the_South_African_Contex.html?id=UzDm7NNHVGUC