|  Hot Topic
YOU'RE OUTTA HERE!
Beware the Loose Professional Title of "Journalist"
by Daniel Shaefer
Survivor."
"The Weakest Link." "Tough Enough." They all have one thing
in common. At some point they get to remove a member of the show either by vote
or a Darwin-esque selection process. I think it is about time we journalists adopted
this practice as well. Photographers use the term "paparazzi" to separate
the less scrupulous members from the rest of their profession. Most journalists
are not so lucky. Sure we can label the seedy papers "tabloids," but
people toss around phrases like "the media" and "the press"
like cheap candy during a parade.
Getting into the gene pool of journalism has become far too easy. It is time to
start charging admission. Fox News-statistically you have had unbalanced, speculative
and sensationalized coverage on most of your major stories-you are the weakest
link, good-bye. Geraldo-melodramatically reporting an event that didn't even occur
is more than a "mistake." The tribe has spoken and you've just been
voted off the island.
Unfortunately, those we could vote off go on and on. Janet Cook had her Pulitzer
Prize taken after the Washington Post discovered she fabricated stories. Even
Pulitzer himself was not the greatest example of journalistic integrity, falling
into sensationalism and creating "news events" later in his career.
If I could create a special category that separates those who practice journalism
yet do not follow a code of ethics that includes truth and accuracy, I would do
it. Calling writers from the Enquirer, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Maxim,
The Times-Delphic and DUIN all journalists is correct, but not especially helpful
or specific about their roles or their publication's purpose.
Sports Illustrated might normally be journalism, but the swimsuit edition has
a very different purpose than the publication's normal goals-it is journalism-entertainment
meant to bring in revenue from male hormones: the articles that do appear in the
issue are an afterthought.
When the reporting of facts and events takes a back seat to advertising and sales,
a new breed of journalism is born. Journalism-entertainment can include, but is
not exclusive to: talk shows, tabloids, columnists, Fox News, and any other group
or publication that would sacrifice truth and accuracy for any reason.
That is not to say that there is anything inherently wrong with journalism-entertainment-or
that all journalism-entertainment media do not value truth and accuracy. I am
merely drawing a line that emphasizes the priorities of journalists in different
roles.
I am a journalist. However, what I write in this column-while I may still strive
for accuracy in the facts I do present-is journalism-entertainment. I joke around;
I infuse my opinions (No really, Fox, I do).
I expect people to take my columns at face value and make their own judgments.
When I write news, however, it is my duty to make sure my audience can trust every
statement of fact implicitly, that I do not force my opinion upon the story, and
that I have done my reporting in a compassionate, objective and thorough fashion.
I am also not suggesting that making a mistake should eliminate journalists from
the field. Journalism is a profession of varying degrees, and the rating scale
is the code of ethics they follow.
I don't expect to single-handedly change the way people think about the vast profession
of journalism. But I do expect that when criticism is due, people consider the
group they are upset with. What ethical code is the group bound by? If they profess
to be "journalists" but they are not living up to the SPJ Professional
Code of Ethics, then give them the third degree-vote them off the island. We can't
afford to have so many weak links.
Don't hold back on criticizing paparazzi reporters, and make that criticism specific.
Journalists and readers need to realize that every bit of entertainment injected
into any journalistic profession comes at a price-in terms of integrity, quality,
accuracy or simply image. Then, the hardworking honor-bound journalists of the
world can rest easy knowing that the blame is focused on those who deserve it.
Daniel Shaefer is a senior news/Internet major and a Times-Delphic columnist.
|
