The Foster-Foreman series lecture I attended was by speaker and columnist, Lisa Falkenberg of the Houston Chronicle. Falkenberg discussed a lot on the differences between being a reporter and a columnist in journalism, as well as some of the challenges she has faced being a columnist.
The two ethical issues that bring the most concern that Falkenberg brought up deal with reporting on sensitive issues regarding the brokenness of the Texas foster care system and abortion. The second ethical issue that she brought up was balancing her opinion with research to back it up so that she is seen as credible. So I will be analyzing the reporting of sensitive material and balancing opinion as a columnist.
Falkenberg discussed a piece with the audience about an issue of sexual abuse in the foster care system in Texas that went unreported and unbeknownst until Falkenberg actually wrote the piece. A same-sex couple was trying to adopt two boys and they had an older brother in the system they would visit occasionally. Unfortunately every time they came back from the visit there were signs of sexual abuse by the brother. They reported to child protective services the sexual abuse, and the organization responded saying, “if you don’t see it with your own eyes, don’t tell it,”( Falkenberg). That’s when Falkenberg stepped in to uncover this information and the brokenness. The ethical issue here is reporting on 20 years of abuse and neglect of minors in the foster care system; sensitive information. Even some as young as four-years-old. But according to the Society of Professional Journalists writer Jim Pumarlo, the main goal is to make sure to minimize harm and to approach anything involving sensitive issues with responsibility. To show compassion to the victims, and to realize that reporting some things may cause a lot of harm to people. But also as a journalist, you have a responsibility to report on the sensitive stuff especially if it is affecting an entire community or state( SPJ Ethics Committee, Pumarlo). In this case, Falkenberg handled this professionally and responsibly, as well as seeing that this is a system affecting the entire state of Texas.
The second ethical issue that was raised in the lecture was on balancing opinion as a columnist for a highly established newspaper. Falkenberg said how she had to earn her way as a journalist to voice her opinions because not everyone is just going to right off listen or believe her. So it comes down to how to balance your own opinion as well as backing it up with sources and facts. Also, bringing all sorts of opinions from both playing fields. Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee has this to say about the issue.
“Credibility is at the heart of journalism. The audience must believe the information it is receiving is accurate, the editorial judgments based on principles of fairness and balance. Sometimes, when faced with ethical choices for which there is no “right” answer, journalists can only follow a process that takes into account the interests of various “stakeholders,”(Irwin Gratz, SPJ Ethics Committee).
So basically what Falkenberg has to do is to make sure that all of her sources and what she is writing is founded, no “fake news” or facts she made up. Not pulling a Stephen Glass because he probably was not trusted after he was found out for making up his stories.
My final opinion on this lecture is that I think I came out knowing that balancing your opinion is very important because what you say represents your company’s thinking. While listening to Falkenberg say that you can voice your opinion as a columnist, that seemed to go against all laws of Journalism. But I think what it comes down to is following the code of ethics. To seek truth and report it, to minimize harm, to act independently, etc. The best thing to do as a journalist is to gain credibility and trust with your audience. I really enjoyed this lecture and I learned a lot.
Works Cited
Pumarlo, J., & Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Committee. (n.d.). Reporting on Grief, Tragedy and Victims [Web log post]. Retrieved October 29, 2017, from https://www.spj.org/ethics-papers-grief.asp.
Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Committee, & Gratz, I. (n.d.). Accountability [Web log post]. Retrieved October 29, 2107, from https://www.spj.org/ethics-papers-accountability.asp.