Bill Marimow was in the building on Tuesday night to lecture on ethics in journalism. The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner brought up a great point that really made me think. It was the cardinal rule. The cardinal rule is, if any action makes you hesitate and pause, do not do it. If instincts tell you something is wrong, get a second opinion. That really touched me because in this career, all you have is credibility and your word. And as a journalist working for a paper you need your credibility because without that you have nothing. People will not want to read information from someone who they cannot trust.
In a article by Folker Hanusch, he talks about the different types of journalism out there. He said, “Journalistic fields beyond the news have been little explored.” That tells me that all people really know the news as is journalism. Journalist make the news in a sense. I completely agree. The public would have no news if journalist did not go out there and get the news. Then I look back on the cardinal rule, Marimow was talking about, and I think we owe it to people to at least stop and consider about what we are getting ready to put out there for the world to see. To take a second and maybe put our self in their shoes.
Another point that stuck out to me in which Marimow had made was the story when the 10 year old boy was a spy for a drug gang. I mean he told the story and my jaw dropped. I could not figure out for the life of me why in earth the boy;s mother would want her son to have his name and picture in the newspaper. What mother in their right mind would want that. As the child grows up, that article is going to be forever attached to his name. He would not be able to go anywhere without people asking if he is that 10 year old kid who was a drug spy. The article could mess up the kid’s future. I am really glad Marimow stepped in and decided not to say the boy’s full name and not show his face in the photo. In one article Nicola Jones talks about how journalism is always being criticized, and it is always going to be criticized until we get more ethical, morally good people in there.
In conclusion, I loved Marimow’s lecture. It really showed me some great tips for down the road. The lecture also helped me decide what type of journalist I want to be, it showed me to think and get a second opinion on things before I just write them. The lecture was helpful and insightful.
REFERENCES:
Hanusch, Folker. “A Profile Of Australian Travel Journalists’ Professional Views And Ethical Standards.” Journalism 13.5 (2012): 668-686.Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.
Jones, Nicola. “‘Sexing Up’ Environmental Issues: Exploring Media Eco-Ethics, Advocacy And Journalism In A South African Context.”Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies (Routledge) 33.1 (2012): 26-43. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.