Text:

"Poytn(me)r in the right direction"

Ethics of Journalism.. a topic I have problems with.

Most issues involving ethics are focused on how the readers and financial investors are affected. When it comes to media junkets and freebes I personally would have no problem accepting gifts. Just because a company treated me to a nice island vacation to report on the tourist economy in the Virgin Islands does not mean that I will not write a bad report. If journalists allow gifts and opportunities to alter their objectivity, then yes credibility becomes an issue. I follow a more teleological approach to ethics. If the story is factual, accurate and objective... what does it matter how you went about obtaining the story? Conversations with journalists regarding ethics makes me cringe. In my mind I see a bunch of scholars, too lazy to make it in the reporting world, chastising real writers over unobtainable dimensions of objectivity.

Since the present media takes form as a corporate conglomerate, how can a journalist be criticized for buying and interview or receiving a free cup of joe?

I have studied several approaches to resolving ethical problems that arise in journalism. Most methods require involved analysis and other feather in your cap macaroni type of processes... When a journalist is on the job working on deadline.. issues arise and the journalist does not have time to puff on a cuban and discuss over a brandy.

As my mother often says, "We all shit in the same pot, and in the end it all smells the same." Journalism ethicists can toil over the guidelines of credibility.. I choose the right to accept vacations and dinners.

Website reading:

Basically what I took away from the additional reading was optimism. Journalism is not just print anymore. Journalism does not require words. In my mind, journalism isn't even 'new' news. Journalism is spreading the word, telling others what they have the right to know. All this professionalism yadda yadda makes me cringe. Spread the word spread the knowledge.

I like the idea of online news competing with television. The Anna Nicole Smith 24-7 coverage last year on most major news networks justifies the rise of online news.

I checked out some of the animated news links. I really wish I knew flash or some other animation program to work with that realm of journalism. I feel that jumping on the news junkie bandwagon is difficult these days and ill-informed. Online news provides readers with an opportunity to understand the history of the war in Iraq or even a visual of how a hurricane forms.

Although there will always be critics of journalist practices.. I feel that at the rate journalism is changing, those old bourbon swirling farts won't be able to keep up.

Election:

GOP and the Media

Well new polls are in and Ron Paul looks to be in fourth place in the New Hampshire primary. The Nation suggests that if Paul received equal media representation then he might become a serious national contender for the GOP candidacy. I recognize the name Ron Paul and associate him with libertarian values, however I do not know much about his policy beyond that. I went to check out NYTimes politics page on the candidates, and in the right corner there are faces of GOP and Democrat candidates. I understand that the Times cannot put every candidate on the opening page, and I assumed the candidates were chosen based on alphabetical order. Not the case, Thompson's name appeared but not Paul. Although my quick net surfing is a large generalization, but it proves my point. The media is doing a horrible job reporting on the candidates. Guiliani appears in countless headlines from New Hampshire, even though he has basically said that he is not focusing much of his campaign on the early primaries.

Consider even the coverage between Thompson and Paul. Thompson is not contending well in NH and his only claim to fame is Law and Order. I also know that Thompson has a fairly young wife and lost a daughter some years ago. Why do I know these things, yet know nothing about Paul? I think the answer is that Paul does not care to play these personal issues during the campaign.

Ch. 19 Radio and Television

Radio and television news needs to be straight forward. Writing must be clear and concise.

I don't have much to say about radio and tv writing/stories, but I can comment on the industry.

The text said that a half hour news cast contains only 22 minutes of news, roughly only half of the front page of print news. I feel a large population of the American people get most of their news from national television broadcasts. If broadcasts are only have time for a small hand full of stories, the public is ill informed. I don't think the people that get their news from tv are inclined to follow up on stories via newspapers.

The topic of agenda setting comes to mind as well. I always have a problem with the idea of top stories. Who says the 4 or 5 stories covered on tv are the most relevant? TV and radio confine the viewer to, in my mind, censored news. Who is to blame, the news station.. the financial supports... the public?

I think that radio is the most objective news source, solely because the radio usually only provides for short updates... making it difficult to find space/time for opinionated interjections.

I think radio script writing should be studied early on in journalism curriculum, because radio stresses the idea of getting to the facts. I have a difficult time determining what is relevant to a story when writing for print. Radio writing would help discern the facts from fillers.

Clinton Gets an Instant Chance to Wield a New Weapon

The NY Times reported that Hillary Clinton launched a website for the sole purpose of disputing news reports her campaign finds offensive. The story cites how Hillary reportedly did not tip a waitress after dining in Iowa.

WHO CARES!?!?!?!

Why are papers even printing that Hillary did not leave a tip (although it was later proven that Hillary did leave a $100 tip for a $157 meal)? Why does the media fuel empty politics?

Politicians need to attack policy not personality.

It is ridiculous that Hillary needs to create a site to disprove news allegations. This might be one of the only times I sympathize with Hillary. However, Hillary should be the better woman and ignore these cheap attacks at her campaign.

Ch. 18

Investigative reporting, now thats what I call journalism. I think its phenomenal the number of social injustices that can be exposed just through a bit of attention and research. I realize there are just as many stories that need more than research to develop into a story.

The one thing that upsets me is that investigative reporting is necessary. Why are people so corrupt? Who are these people that are so willing to exploit the innocent? I've always wanted to help people. I knew that I would only find completion in my life by finding some sort of truth. Investigative reporting provides me with the ability to do just that.

I understand that accuracy is key.. but as the text describes not everyone will tell a report the whole truth. I don't think loyal journalist should be scrutinized so much by frivolous inaccuracies. I think even if facts can't be double checked they can still be printed. As long as it is stated that what you are writing is what someone else said. Yes that may seem like adding to the continuum of rumors.. but I think it provides with the idea to question information for themselves.

Databases. Well I think I am pretty capable of extracting the information I need from the Internet. However I know there are countless websites designed for journalists that I am unfamiliar with.

Accessing public records is something I need to explore.

After looking at the IRE abstracts, I was pleased to see that some reporting actually served as a catalyst to action in the government.

Different Rules When a Rival Is a Woman?

Evidently Hillary Clinton is pulling the gender card, but according to Hillary she isn't. The Clinton campaign thinks that Hillary has been center of Democratic attack because she is a woman. What? People are attacking you Hillary, because people don't like you. It also makes sense that Hillary would be the Democrats number one target, because she is leading the polls. You are topic of discussion Mrs. Hillary Clinton because you say one thing and vote another.

The article also suggested that in America sexism is okay but racism is not, therefore the reason why number two man, Obama, has not been grilled with questions and criticism. Bah. Hillary, you are an easy target, just look at the last weekend's SNL opening skit.

I want to see more political platforms in the news, not petty fights.