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There is a perennial concern that the standards of journalism are being ignored. One of the most controversial issues in modern reporting in media bias, especially on political issues but also with regard to cultural and other issues. Sensationalism is also a common complaint. Minor factual errors are also extremely common as almost anyone who is familiar with the subject of a particular report will quickly realize.

One of the primary functions of journalism ethics is to aid journalists in dealing with many ethical dilemmas they may encounter. From highly sensitive issues of national security to everyday questions such as accepting a dinner from a source, putting a bumper sticker on one's car, publishing a personal opinion blog, a journalist must make decisions taking into account things such as the public's right to know, potential threats, reprisals and intimidations of all kinds, personal integrity, conflicts between editors, reporters and publishers or management etc.