Situation Definition
Ken Dilanian is an American journalist and national security correspondent for MSNBC. Throughout his career Dilanian dealt with several scandals such as the Ukrainian scandal. While talking to students, Dilanian expressed how he navigated the ins and outs of his career. Two ethical concerns that raised questions for me where when is it okay to use an anonymous source and remembering that a journalist first priority is not the story but the citizen.
Applicability to Journalism Ethics
Reporters often find themselves in pressing ethical situations when the person they are interviewing says something “off the record”. Dilanian commented on this ethical issue because when is the line drawn. He stated that reporters should never report on something that is considered “off the record”, however it is the journalist’s job to clearly define what is considered off the records and negotiate with their source.
Traditionally “off the record” means it cannot be included in the piece. However, today “off the record” normally means to not included the person names. Any source has an agenda, whether it is to bring awareness or government related. Due to these agenda it is important to cross check sources to ensure that as the writer, all points of view are considered and heard. Dilanian suggested to avoid using anonymous sources because it is not worth the time of the journalist. As your job, your task is to search out a story and report your findings. If someone chooses to be “off the record” the credibility of the journalist is then lost. Cynthia Bolbach, an editor for Media Law Reporter stated that “often anonymous sources are quoted simply to attempt to convince readers or viewers that a story is hot and a potential prize winner” (Wulfemeyer, 1983, p.1). The overuse of anonymous sources can undermine the legitimate use of the source as a journalistic tool.
Along with using credible sources journalist also need to keep in mind that their loyalty lies with the citizen first no matter what. Dilanian stated that during his career as he dealt with several public officials, one even being the President, he had to often times remember that his purpose was not to serve them but the American citizen. Journalism is the source of the people’s understanding of what is happening in the world. If a journalist makes the decision to out this duty to the side, the view of the world then becomes skewed. According to the Neiman Foundation, “people who gather news are not like employees of other companies. They have a social obligation that can actually override their employers’ immediate interests at times, and yet this obligation is the source of their employers’ financial success (Kovach, 2001, p.2).
Conclusion
Journalists are expected to follow several unwritten rules. Ken Dilanian eloquently spoke about these rules and made it clear that it is his job to “dig in the dark corners- the things viewers can’t see”. The five journalistic principles all connect. The two ethical concerns Dilanian touched on, using anonymous sources and remaining loyal to the citizen are intertwined. Both contribute to protecting the integrity and credibility of news sources. Journalists act as messengers to and for the public. Rather than working to serve their own agenda, everything they do is the serve the public. Ken Dilanian offered real world examples of this duty and even in a high-profile position, was still able to preserve his journalistic integrity.
References
Kovach, B.Journalism’s First Loyalty Is to Citizens. Retrieved October 31, 2019, from https://nieman.harvard.edu/articles/journalisms-first-loyalty-is-to-citizen
Wulfemeyer, K. T. (n.d.). Use of Anonymous Sources in Journalism – K. Tim Wulfemeyer, 1983. Retrieved October 31, 2019, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/073953298300400205?journalCode=nrja.