John M. Blodgett abides by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.

According to the code’s preamble: “Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity. The Society declares these four principles” — Seek Truth and Report It, Minimize Harm, Act Independently, Be Accountable and Transparent — “as the foundation of ethical journalism and encourages their use in its practice by all people in all media.”

Blodgett also abides by the National Press Photographers Association’s Code of Ethics and is a staunch believer in Clifton “Cliff” Edom’s credo, “Show truth with a camera.” Often called the “Father of Photojournalism,” Edom was the first director of the photojournalism sequence at the University of Missouri-Columbia.