“CNN Reporters Must Resign After Fabricated News Story”
Situation Definition:
In June, three CNN journalists turned in their resignations for their part in a fabricated story. Thomas Frank, the author, Eric Lichtblau, an assistant managing editor in CNN’s Washington bureau, and Lex Harris, head of the investigations unit were responsible for causing CNN to retract the story that included false information about Anthony Scaramucci, a hedge-fund manager and Trump confidant, and his connection to a Russian investment fund. The article mentioned that the Senate was investigating the Scaramucci case, which in fact was not true. The fake story did not meet the publication’s editorial standards and caused a damaging blow in the eyes of readers. One ethical issue that the story encompassed was deceiving the readers by not telling the truth. The article also touched upon the ethical issue of conflict of interest.
Analysis:
According to the SPJ Code of Ethics journalists must be accurate and fair. CNN’s mission statement states, “Seek truth. Break news. Hold the powerful accountable,” (Ember and Grynbaum, 2017). In order to do this, journalists must verify information before releasing it and never deliberately distort facts or context. Thomas Frank, resigned CNN writer, created a story about a supposed investigation into a pre-inaugural meeting between Anthony Scaramucci and the head of a Russian investment fund. Frank did not follow the SPJ Code of Ethics as he wrote his stories because he did not verify his information before writing his story. The story was incorrect when it indicated that the fund was a part of a Russian state bank. According to Andy Schotz, “ One amazing detail to emerge from […] plagiarism and fabrication […] was how disconnected readers and sources said they felt,” (Schotz, 2009, p. 31). The president of CNN has invested resources into political and investigative coverage of the Trump administration, and the errors made by Frank and the other two involved in the case has diminished the credibility of CNN’s reporting.
Journalists are responsible for remaining neutral while writing an article. According to Glenn Waguespack, “An opposition between the private interests and the official or professional responsibilities of a person in a position of trust, power and/or authority,” (Waguespack, 2016, p. 47). Conflict of interest comes into play when journalists have any self-interest, or loyalty to any person or organization, that keeps them from serving the public. Conflict of interest can cause issues for a journalist because it undermines a journalist’s credibility. In the CNN case Frank had a conflict of interest because he did not remain unbiased when reporting about politics. He instead painted a false picture about Trump’s administration causing readers to get a false idea about the party.
Conclusion:
The two ethical issues of deceiving readers by not telling the truth and conflict of interest are two of the most important issues that need to be discussed with journalists because both issues can influence readers’ minds the most. If these ethical issues occur, action must be taken in order to correct the mistakes made. Luckily, in the CNN case, CNN took the right steps to correct the faults of the three employees. CNN retracted the story and issued an apology, which were the right steps to follow because it allowed readers to know that they did not back the three employees that created the problem. It was also necessary that the three that were responsible for the ethical issues to step down or be fired from the publication because they cannot be trusted after the large mistake that they made.
Works Cited:
Ember, S. and Grynbaum M. M. (2017). At CNN, Retracted Story Leaves an Elite Reporting Team Bruised. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/business/media/cnn-retraction-trump-scaramucci.html
Schotz, A. (2009). Be accountable to your public. Quill. 97(1). 31.
Waguespack, G. (2016). Sorting Through the Gray. (cover story). ASHA Leader, 21(7), 44-51.