Ethics and Newspapers Ethics and Newspapers

Discussion About the Jayson Blair Episode Discussion About the Jayson Blair Episode and What It Means To Usand What It Means To Us

Warren WatsonWarren Watson

Arizona State UniversityArizona State University

20122012

What is Ethics?What is Ethics?

• The discipline dealing with what is right The discipline dealing with what is right and wrong and with moral duty and and wrong and with moral duty and obligation.obligation.

• A set of moral principles or values.A set of moral principles or values.

To be ethical is to conform to accepted To be ethical is to conform to accepted professional standards of conductprofessional standards of conduct

Ethics: What a Time!Ethics: What a Time!

• Jayson Blair -- a 7,500-word bloodletting in Jayson Blair -- a 7,500-word bloodletting in The New York Times after dozens of Blair The New York Times after dozens of Blair indiscretions and fabricationsindiscretions and fabrications

• Manipulated photos in the Los Angeles TimesManipulated photos in the Los Angeles Times• Salt Lake City reporters selling stories to the Salt Lake City reporters selling stories to the

National EnquirerNational Enquirer• The Glass bookThe Glass book

What of the Latest Problem:What of the Latest Problem:Rick Bragg and UncreditedRick Bragg and Uncredited

‘Helpers?’‘Helpers?’

First, A Little History ...First, A Little History ...

Hearst, Pulitzer: The Journalism Hearst, Pulitzer: The Journalism of Personalityof Personality

‘‘DestructionDestruction of the war ship of the war ship

Maine was the Maine was the work of the work of the enemy’enemy’

‘‘Reward for the Reward for the conviction of conviction of the criminals the criminals who sent sailors who sent sailors to their death’to their death’

500 Percent Growth500 Percent Growth

•• Hearst’s New York Journal enjoyed circulationHearst’s New York Journal enjoyed circulationgrowth of 500 percent in 1902-03:growth of 500 percent in 1902-03:

•• ““The new journalism easily became yellowThe new journalism easily became yellowjournalism, fraudulent and sensationalistic,journalism, fraudulent and sensationalistic,selling violence, sex and scandal, andselling violence, sex and scandal, andpreoccupied with nothing but circulationpreoccupied with nothing but circulation.”.”

--- Sharon Boswell, historian --- Sharon Boswell, historian

1920s: A March Toward Ethics1920s: A March Toward Ethics

• In 1922, the American Society of In 1922, the American Society of Newspaper Editors adopted the first Code Newspaper Editors adopted the first Code of Ethics and Canons of Journalism in the of Ethics and Canons of Journalism in the history of newspapers.history of newspapers.

• Important concepts: “A high trust,” “Honest Important concepts: “A high trust,” “Honest journalism,” “Accuracy,” “Impartiality,” journalism,” “Accuracy,” “Impartiality,” “Decency,” “Fair play.”“Decency,” “Fair play.”

Growing ProfessionalismGrowing Professionalism

• Franklin RooseveltFranklin Roosevelt• Press associations (AP, UPI)Press associations (AP, UPI)• Journalism educationJournalism education• Woodward and BernsteinWoodward and Bernstein• But a growing competition with TV, radio But a growing competition with TV, radio

and the Internet by century’s endand the Internet by century’s end

The Pressure to Get it First …The Pressure to Get it First ……The Pressure to Get it Right!…The Pressure to Get it Right!

1981-98:1981-98:Infamous Infamous

IndiscretionsIndiscretions

• Janet Cooke (at right) Janet Cooke (at right) fabricates “Jimmy’s World” in fabricates “Jimmy’s World” in the Post and forfeits a Pulitzerthe Post and forfeits a Pulitzer

• Chiquita Banana and GannettChiquita Banana and Gannett• Glass’s fictional non-fiction in Glass’s fictional non-fiction in

The New RepublicThe New Republic• The Boston Globe makes it all The Boston Globe makes it all

up: Patricia Smith, Mike up: Patricia Smith, Mike Barnicle (right) Barnicle (right)

• Renewed calls to prosecute the Renewed calls to prosecute the storystory

What About the Business?What About the Business?What About Eroding Credibility?What About Eroding Credibility?

““Why didn’t more of the subjects of Why didn’t more of the subjects of his (Blair) dozens of bogus stories his (Blair) dozens of bogus stories complain? … Are some readers so complain? … Are some readers so jaundiced about the press that they jaundiced about the press that they no longer even expect us to get stuff no longer even expect us to get stuff right. Do they assume we just make right. Do they assume we just make it up? Ouchit up? Ouch.”.”

--- Jonathan Alter, Newsweek columnist--- Jonathan Alter, Newsweek columnist

And What of the DeposedAnd What of the DeposedHowell Raines?Howell Raines?

• How much of a factor was How much of a factor was his almost arrogant, his almost arrogant, “unrelenting ferocity,” in the “unrelenting ferocity,” in the words of Newsweek?words of Newsweek?

• Is workplace culture at the Is workplace culture at the Times a factor in this Times a factor in this credibility crisis?credibility crisis?

• What about your workplace What about your workplace culture?culture?

What Are the Lessons of Jayson Blair?What Are the Lessons of Jayson Blair?

What Can We Take Away for the What Can We Take Away for the Newspaper as a Whole?Newspaper as a Whole?

How Do You Maintain an Ethical How Do You Maintain an Ethical Workplace?Workplace?

Some of Your Ethicical IssuesSome of Your Ethicical Issues

• Undercharges at the Record-EagleUndercharges at the Record-Eagle• Stealing coupon insertsStealing coupon inserts• Role of the reporter and photographerRole of the reporter and photographer• Fairness in hiringFairness in hiring• Dealing with the big advertiser (auto dealer)Dealing with the big advertiser (auto dealer)