My bad.
On Friday night's edition of Inside Washington airing locally on Washington PBS station WETA, the first topic was whether the media's been unfair to President Bush, given his abysmal approval ratings. NPR reporter Nina Totenberg said Bush received a "free ride" for years, so now the worm has turned and the coverage is fierce. Then the host turned to Newsweek's Evan Thomas, who was frank in his assessment of the media's role:
Gordon Peterson: "What do you think, Evan? Are the mainstream media bashing the president unfairly?"
Evan Thomas: "Well, our job is to bash the president, that's what we do almost --"
Peterson: "But unfairly?"
Thomas: "Mmmm -- I think when he rebuffed, I think when he just kissed off the Iraq Study Group, the Baker-Hamilton Commission, there was a sense then that he was decoupling himself from public opinion and Congress and the mainstream media, going his own way. At that moment he lost whatever support he had."
I always assumed that reporters were supposed to adhere to jounalistic "ethics".
From the above linked site "Society of Professional Journalists":
Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
— Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
— Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
— Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
— Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
— Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
— Never plagiarize.
— Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
— Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
— Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
— Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
— Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
— Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
— Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
— Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
— Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
— Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
— Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
— Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
— Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.
Journalists should:
—Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
— Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
— Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
— Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
— Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
— Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
Journalists should:
— Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
— Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
— Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
— Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
— Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of writers, editors and other news professionals. The present version of the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months of study and debate among the Society's members.
Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996.
Wikipedia:
While various existing codes have some differences, most share common elements including the principles of — truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability — as these apply to the acquisition of newsworthy information and its subsequent reportage to the public.
See, I wasn't aware of the fact that Newsweek, CNN, NYT, Wapo, Associated Press, etc..... has revised those codes of ethics and now have the "job" of bashing Bush.
Again, My Bad.
Maybe someone can provide a link for me to the "new" jounalistic code of ethics, because I cannot find them in any search engine and I have been looking all morning.
I have to go with what I can find, so lets analyze those listed above, since I cannot find anything "newer" to explain the code of ethics being used today by the mainstream media. (MSM)
#1.— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
One name here: Jamil Hussein, AP news source that cannot be verified, source for the AP on over 60 stories.
NEXT
#2. — Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
WOW, the NYT and Wapo as well as most the others listed above, would be completely out of business if they applied THIS ethic from the code into their reports.
Today alone, their headlines misrepresent the actual facts from within the story.
G.O.P. Senators Block Debate on Iraq Policy from the NYT.... IN the article: (HeadLine)
The deadlock came after Democrats refused a proposal by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, that would have cleared the way for a floor fight on the Warner resolution in return for votes on two competing Republican alternatives that were more supportive of the president.(From the article)
I could list examples of what I call the "headline factor" all day long and have often mentioned it in my posts relating to media bias and media lies, AP, Associated Press and NYT.
#3. — Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
I think this also covers using thier newspaper or news shows to further their OWN political agenda....correct me if I am wrong.
#4. — Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
I simply laughed at this one and I do not think examples are needed from me, just open any link from any of the above mentioned "supposed" news articles and see for yourself if this standard of ethics are being used.
#5. — Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
This is where todays media completely ignores their own code of conduct, their own code of ethics. Almost every story nowadays is colored with total and complete opinion without any objectivity.
Once again, the examples are too many to list them all, so open any story yourself and look for yourself and as you are read ask : How much is news and how much is opinion? Op-Eds do not count because they are supposed to be opinion based.
Also ask yourself this: Are BOTH sides of this issue being represented in (pick any article).
#6, #7 and #8.
— Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
— Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
— Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
HELLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO New York Times, who showed a video of a soldier dying BEFORE his family had even been notified.
If that does not fly in the face of every journalitic code of ethics, I cannot begin to understand what would.
#9. —Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
That one speaks for itself.
#10. — Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
This one is for you, Kathleen Carroll for questioning OUR right to question YOU on Jamil Hussein.
One has to wonder why the jounalistic codes of ethics are so completely ignored these days and why they are not held accountable for it.
Others mentioning the media bias and misrepresentation shown: QandO. Memeorandum lists more.
[UPDATE] 3:34pm- Finally I found another "version" of the Jounalistic Code of Ethics.
Code of Ethics Sigma Delta Chi:
The Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, believes the duty of journalists is to serve the truth.The examples I used in the previous "Code of Ethics" are still relevant examples to this version also.
We believe the agencies of mass communication are carriers of public discussion and information, acting on their Constitutional mandate and freedom to learn and report the facts.
We believe in public enlightenment as the forerunner of justice, and in our Constitutional role to seek the truth as part of the public's right to know the truth.
We believe those responsibilities carry obligations that require journalists to perform with intelligence, objectivity, accuracy, and fairness.
To these ends, we declare acceptance of the standards to practice here set forth:
I. RESPONSIBILITY: The public's right to know of events of public importance and interest is the overriding mission of the mass media. The purpose of distributing news and enlightened opinion is to serve the general welfare. Journalists who use their professional status as representatives of the public for selfish or other unworthy motives violate a high trust.
II. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: Freedom of the press is to be guarded as an inalienable right of people in a free society. It carries with it the freedom and the responsibility to discuss, question, and challenge actions and utterances of our government and of our public and private institutions. Journalists uphold the right to speak unpopular opinions and the privilege to agree with the majority.
III. ETHICS: journalists must be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know the truth.
1. Gifts, favors, free travel special treatment or privileges can compromise the integrity of journalists and their employers. Nothing of value should be accepted,
2. Secondary employment, political involvement, holding public office, and service in community organizations should be avoided if it compromises the integrity of journalists and their employers. Journalists and their employers should conduct their personal lives in a manner, which protects them from conflict of interest, real or apparent. Their responsibilities to the public are paramount. That is the nature of their profession.
3. So-called news communications from private sources should not be published or broadcast without substantiation of their claims to news value.
4. Journalists will seek news that serves the public interest, despite the obstacles. They will make constant efforts to assure that the public's business is conducted in public and that public records are open to public inspection.
5. Journalists acknowledge the newsmen's ethic of protecting confidential sources of information.
IV. ACCURACY AND OBJECTIVITY: Good faith with the public is the foundation of all worthy journalism.
1.-Truth is our ultimate goal.
2.-Objectivity in reporting the news is another goal, which serves as the mark of an experienced professional. It is a standard of performance toward which we strive. We honor those who achieve it.
3.-There is no excuse for inaccuracies or lack of thoroughness.
4.-Newspaper headlines should be fully warranted by the contents of the articles they accompany. Photographs and telecasts should give an accurate picture of an event and not highlight a minor incident out of context.
5.-Sound practice makes clear distinction between news reports and expressions of opinion. News reports should be free of opinion or bias and represent all sides of an issue.
6.-Partisanship in editorial comment, which knowingly departs from the truth, violates the spirit of American journalism.
7.-Journalists recognize their responsibility for offering informed analysis, comment, and editorial opinion on public events and issues. They accept the obligation to present such material by individuals whose competence, experience, and judgment qualify them for it.
8.-Special articles or presentations devoted to advocacy or the writer's own conclusions and interpretations should be labeled as such.
V. FAIR PLAY: journalists at all times will show respect for the dignity, privacy, rights, and well-being of people encountered in the course of gathering and presenting the news.
1.-The news media should not communicate unofficial charges affecting reputation or moral character without giving the accused a chance to reply.
2.-The news media must guard against invading a person's right to privacy.
3.-The media should not pander to morbid curiosity about details of vice and crime.
4.-It is the duty of news media to make prompt and complete corrections of their errors.
5.-Journalists should be accountable to the public for their reports and the public should be encouraged to voice its grievances against the media. Open dialogue with our readers, viewers, and listeners should be fostered.
VI. PLEDGE: Journalists should actively censure and try to prevent violations of these standards, and they should encourage their observance by all news people. Adherence to this code of ethics is intended to preserve the bond of mutual trust and respect between American journalists and the American people.
[End Update]
A day late, but OPEN TRACKBACKS TODAY. To trackback you must link to this post.
Trackposted to Perri Nelson's Website, The Random Yak, Big Dog's Weblog, Adam's Blog, basil's blog, Maggie's Notebook, Common Folk Using Common Sense, The Bullwinkle Blog, Conservative Cat, Jo's Cafe, Conservative Thoughts, Right Celebrity, Faultline USA, third world county, stikNstein... has no mercy, Pirate's Cove, Planck's Constant, Renaissance Blogger, Dumb Ox Daily News, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
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Due to a haloscan glitch, there are a couple of people that have tied to track back thatI did not receive...my apologies.
Pigs and MonkeyS Again, by Woman Honor Thyself....
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