Professional Standards & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real Mandela Effect Quiz practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Standards & Ethics flashcards as text
Which is NOT one of the four principles in the SPJ Code of Ethics?
Answer: Maximize page views
The SPJ Code's principles are seek truth, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable and transparent.
A journalist wants to report that the children's books were 'Berenstein Bears.' What is the most ethical first step?
Answer: Check original covers and publisher records
Primary sources show the books were always spelled 'Berenstain,' so verification should begin there.
Who coined the term 'Mandela Effect'?
Answer: Fiona Broome
Paranormal consultant Fiona Broome coined the term around 2009 after sharing a false memory of Nelson Mandela dying in prison.
Nelson Mandela actually died in which year?
Answer: 2013
Mandela died on December 5, 2013, after serving as president, contradicting the false 1980s-prison-death memory.
What is the professional standard when a published article contains a factual error?
Answer: Publish a prompt, visible correction
Ethical outlets correct errors promptly and transparently so readers know what changed.
Why is a single anonymous social media post insufficient to confirm a 'collective false memory' claim?
Answer: It cannot be independently verified or show how widespread the memory is
Credible claims need independent corroboration and representative evidence, not one unverifiable post.
A fact-checker only searches for evidence supporting a claim she already believes. Which bias is this?
Answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias is favoring information that confirms existing beliefs, which undermines fact-checking integrity.
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