Journalistic Ethics?

Dr. Cheese · #1 07-10-2008, 10:36 AM

Moderators, I want to talk about issues of journalistics ethics, and not the presidential race. if you think this discussion is too political, please delete it.

Everybody who follows US politics knows that Jesse Jackson was caught saying that he wanted to "cut Barack Obama's nuts off" for "talking down to black people." I am not interested in debating issues of the black family. What interests me is that in the clip shown on Fox News, Jackson is clearly whispering in confidence to another guest on the show. His comments weren't meant for the show itself. I feel it was a violation of ethics to make Jackson's comments public since guests and journalists commonly talk off the record when a show is not filming.

I am in no way defending Jackson. After his "Hymietown" remorks back in 1984, he should have known better than to say anything remotely controversial anywhere near a journalist. That said, I think that Fox News violated a trust and lowered their ethical standards by making the clip public.

jomahu · #2 07-10-2008, 10:39 AM

i dunno. i'd say that ethics don't really exist anymore in journalism...well, commercial/mainstream journalism anymore. to me, network or cable news looks and sounds more like gossip shows...more opinions than facts.

but then again, did ethics ever exist in journalism? i'm not THAT old, so i don't know...

Dr. Cheese · #3 07-10-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jomahu

i dunno. i'd say that ethics don't really exist anymore in journalism...well, commercial/mainstream journalism anymore. to me, network or cable news looks and sounds more like gossip shows...more opinions than facts.

but then again, did ethics ever exist in journalism? i'm not THAT old, so i don't know...

Fair enough. Here is the clip that Fox broadcasted:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9cyGxn-TAg

Son of Sanford · #4 07-10-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Moderators, I want to talk about issues of journalistics ethics, and not the presidential race. if you think this discussion is too political, please delete it.

Everybody who follows us politics knows that Jesse Jackson was caught saying that he wanted to "cut Barack Obama's balls off" for "talking down to black people." I am not interested in debating issues of the black family. What interestes me is that in the clip shown on Fox News, Jackson is clearly whispering in confidence to another guest on the show. His comments weren't meant for the show itself. I feel it was a violation of ethics to make Jackson's comments public since guests and journalists commonly talk off the record when a show is not filming.

I am in no way defending Jackson. After his "Hymietown" remorks back in 1984, he should have known better than to say anything remotely controversial anywhere near a journalist. That said, I think that Fox News violated a trust and lowered their ethical standards by making the clip public.

I think that would have happened on any news show. Dirty laundry sells, unfortunately. But yes I think they showed a lowered ethical standard. I am just not sure they are alone on that standard.

Son of Sanford · #5 07-10-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jomahu

i dunno. i'd say that ethics don't really exist anymore in journalism...well, commercial/mainstream journalism anymore. to me, network or cable news looks and sounds more like gossip shows...more opinions than facts.

but then again, did ethics ever exist in journalism? i'm not THAT old, so i don't know...

What she said.

Lorenzini · #6 07-10-2008, 10:47 AM

Ugh. That really sucks. He was clearly whispering.

Mark Latimour · #7 07-10-2008, 10:48 AM

Ethics?

They report. We Decide.

Joe Gress · #8 07-10-2008, 10:52 AM

Yeah, when was the last time ethics were upheld in any "shocking news report"? I don't think I have seen one yet. Filth sells, and that's a fact of life these days.

disenchant · #9 07-10-2008, 11:07 AM

Journalists have always been about selling papers. "If it bleeds, it reads" is the saying. Or "if it's gory, it's a story."

In my Media Issues and Ethics course in college we went over what is ethical and what is not. And how the Media are the gatekeepers of society and there is a lot of information out there and the Media decide what gets publicity and what does not. Unfortunately what I learned in my Media Issues and Ethics class is the exact opposite of what happens in the real world. Which is why I went in to Advertising instead of Journalism. When people read an ad, they expect you to try to sell them something. It's not the media where they try to sell you "truth" which is in actuality, just a viewpoint. Articles that are not labled "editorial" are still in fact, editorials because the writer tells you the "facts" that support his viewpoint. And cleverly omits what doesn't fit.

I don't watch the news. All the news does is make it seem like the world is scary. That death lurks around every corner, and the leaders are all incapable and we are all sick and dying and need to spend our money on prescription drugs. See what kind of a mood you are in after reading the paper or watching the news. Murder everywhere. And compare the heartwarming stories to the ones with blood.

Jeremy Crockett · #10 07-10-2008, 11:12 AM

"Gatekeepers of society"?

The news, as far as I can recall, is supposed to keep us informed of important events in an impartial manner.

Impartiality fell by the wayside years ago.

Brad Johnson · #11 07-10-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Moderators, I want to talk about issues of journalistics ethics, and not the presidential race. if you think this discussion is too political, please delete it.

Everybody who follows US politics knows that Jesse Jackson was caught saying that he wanted to "cut Barack Obama's nuts off" for "talking down to black people." I am not interested in debating issues of the black family. What interests me is that in the clip shown on Fox News, Jackson is clearly whispering in confidence to another guest on the show. His comments weren't meant for the show itself. I feel it was a violation of ethics to make Jackson's comments public since guests and journalists commonly talk off the record when a show is not filming.

I am in no way defending Jackson. After his "Hymietown" remorks back in 1984, he should have known better than to say anything remotely controversial anywhere near a journalist. That said, I think that Fox News violated a trust and lowered their ethical standards by making the clip public.

Any lack of ethics would be trumped by good old fashioned stupidity in this case. That's my bottom line.

I can remember other open mic incidents and they are usually embarassing.

If you are a public figure and feel the freedom to say anything you wouldn't want repeated AFTER BEING MIC'D... duh.

I don't bame Fox one bit. They have an agenda and I seriously doubt that Jackson is unaware of it. So, as a liberal, in Fox's studios, with a mic.... again, duh. It's a tough way to learn a lesson and it's one he should've learned a long time ago. Guess he just got too comfortable.

People need to realize that nothing is off the record anymore. I do.

TheDarkReaver · #12 07-10-2008, 11:19 AM

If you don't want your comments broadcast don't say them when clipped to a microphone, whispering or not it was clearly going to be picked up.

thefore I would conclude that in this case it was ethical to report it, as it is also clearly in the public interest. if Jackson didn't want his comments to be broadcasted he should of kempt them to himself till after recording equipment was blatently pointed at him.

(while i was typing it appears Brad has pretty much made the similar point)

Brad Johnson · #13 07-10-2008, 11:21 AM

DC, what did you think of his son's statement?

Brad Johnson · #14 07-10-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

If you don't want your comments broadcast don't say them when clipped to a microphone, whispering or not it was clearly going to be picked up.

thefore I would conclude that in this case it was ethical to report it, as it is also clearly in the public interest. if Jackson didn't want his comments to be broadcasted he should of kempt them to himself till after recording equipment was blatently pointed at him.

(while i was typing it appears Brad has pretty much made the similar point)

And I''l add waiting until he was not within earshot of anyone he didn't want to hear it. And maybe check everyone for wires.

Again, I just thing it's stupid to do what he did and maybe made even more stupid by the fact that he's done this before. Live and eventually learn?

Dr. Cheese · #15 07-10-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

DC, what did you think of his son's statement?

I think his son is tired of his Dad. If Jesse Jackson wants to be remembered for anything positive, he needs to fade away.

There are some other theories floating around, but they are inappropriate for this forum.

TheDarkReaver · #16 07-10-2008, 11:29 AM

on the subject of journalistic ethics; there is a huge legal case going on in the UK at the minute between Max Mosely (president of the FIA and son of the infamous Oswald Mosely) and the new of the word. It concerns Mosely's dealings with 5 prostitutes in a (supposed) Nazi themed S&M sex orgy and how the paper reported it, whether or not it was a violation of privacy or if it was in the public interest.

Dr. Cheese · #17 07-10-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

on the subject of journalistic ethics; there is a huge legal case going on in the UK at the minute between Max Mosely (president of the FIA and son of the infamous Oswald Mosely) and the new of the word. It concerns Mosely's dealings with 5 prostitutes in a (supposed) Nazi themed S&M sex orgy and how the paper reported it, whether or not it was a violation of privacy or if it was in the public interest.

I don't know about the ethics, but I bet a video clip of that get together would be interesting.

disenchant · #18 07-10-2008, 11:33 AM

Well, whatever a public figure says or does is subject to media reporting. It's the price you pay for being a public figure. And people can give their opinions on public figures, there is a fine line between slander or libel of a public figure and just an opinion.

So if you're going to be a public figure, expect that the media will be on your back and reporting every time you sneeze.

DigMe · #19 07-10-2008, 11:38 AM

Didn't something similar happen to Cheney a while back where he referred to some journalist as an "a-hole" or something as an aside to someone else?

I think if you're anywhere NEAR a mic or a "journalist" these days anything you say is liable to hit the airwaves, papers or blogs.

bc

sarcastro83 · #20 07-10-2008, 11:50 AM

I can't say I'm surprised. I find that Fox isn't as much a source for news as it is for pretty well anything guaranteed to make you stupider should you be exposed to it for prolonged amounts of time.

But again, Jesse Jackson should have known better. Use a pen and a piece of paper next time, just like grade school.