I am sure that everyone has had a chance to see a ‘Journalist’ who has gone ‘bad.’
You know what I mean. Someone who has an ‘ax’ to grind and deliberately twists, invents or lies. Certainly, the headlines have been full of stories… often disclosed on the Internet first. Do you remember when we first heard about Monika Lewinsky? It was on the Internet.
So, I asked myself… is there anything that passes for a “code of ethics” in Journalism? I did find a statement of ‘ethics’ in something called the Society of Professional Journalists… but I question some of their assumptions.
Some folks think that journalists should be like …’judges ’.. closer to G*d and above any compromising earthly associations. They state it this way:
“Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.”
Sounds nice… but in reality, it really means that they are one step away from our culture… and — consequently – they live in a world of their own. This lack of exposure limits their understanding of the community and the world that they are apart.
I think it was Ted Turner who asked Journalists if they were an “American” or a “Journalist” first? I guess this means – Ted — you can’t be both. However, it is our perspective and experiences that gives us an educated point of view .. Not our lack of associations.
Another part of Journalistic ‘ethics’ that caught my attention is a twist on the Hippocratic oath of doing ‘no harm’:
“Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.”
I have met one Journalist who embraced the oath… but, unfortunately, he is no longer a journalist. Good people leave all too quickly. I sometimes wonder if it is true – as told in the James bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies” – that there is no news like bad news? It does seem like the media avoids any ‘good news’ or ‘success stories’ for fear that someone somewhere may feel bad.
However, part of growing up is looking at the world honestly… seeing the good… not just the bad.
I know this is too negative a post for this time of the season… but it disturbs me when a newspaper whacks a young aspiring athlete for failing to win a national championship. It isn’t easy to win… we should be supportive, encouraging, and appreciative of our youth when the succeed and merciful when they stumble…
Too often media folks act like judges and less like what we really need … teachers and cheerleaders …
Roger Freberg