Ethical Truths?

We are faced with a fundamental question: are there "absolute truths" in journalism? Let us consider professor Richard Benedetto's comment Tuesday concerning undercover journalism. He used as an example the story by Ken Silverstein in the June edition of Harper's Magazine.
Absolutely, unequivocally unethical, he said.
But is it?

Silverstein posed as the representative of a London investment firm interested in improving the image of Turkmenistan to ease exports of oil and gas to the West. Here is his response to accusations of unethical behavior:
"I did trick the firms–in order to demonstrate just how easy it is for lobbyists to manipulate political and public opinion," Silverstein said. "The lobbyists, on the other hand, offered to go to work on behalf of one of the world’s most horrific regimes in exchange for the lavish fees they proposed to charge the Maldon Group. The bottom line is that Cassidy and APCO were blinded by greed, thereby exposing their own low ethics as well as the crying need for lobbying reform."

Consider late 19th century muckraker Nellie Bly, who feigned mental illness so as to be admitted to Blackwell’s Island Asylum. In her stories, “Ten Days in a Madhouse,” she detailed the neglect and abuse patients suffered at the hands of nurses and administration. Her stories led to a grand jury investigation of the facility, increased oversight, ongoing inspections and spiked funding for treatment.

It is our job, as journalists, to serve the public diligently and honestly. Undercover journalism shouldn’t be used as an easy out for lazy journalists unwilling to beat the pavement looking for sources. But should it be discounted?

“Undercover journalism should be used sparingly, but it has often yielded rich benefits,” Silverstein said in defense of his undercover Harper’s article. “Unfortunately, few news outlets are willing to use undercover journalism to get a story, or to practice investigative journalism in general. It’s just too expensive and risky; media organizations would rather spend their money on tables at the White House Correspondents dinner and watch Karl Rove rap.”

Did the information Silverstein provided outweigh the questionable practice of undercover journalism? How about Bly’s accomplishments? Weighing the one against the other should be the task, not discounting undercover journalism all together.
-Willson-

Whistle-blowing Sources and Friends

The discussion today about sources who could be too close to comfort was intriguing.
A good friend of mine recently found himself in a very awkward position. He has information that could not only bring down the department of the respected institution he works at, but could also rock similar institutions nationwide (in Japan, that is). To tell or not to tell.
I think the culture of whistle-blowing in Japan is still very young. When Watergate was bringing fame to "Woodstein" here, Japanese courts were condemning a reporter and his source who exposed secret deals on the U.S.' return of Okinawa to Japan. Laws to protect whistle-blowers went into effect only last year.
Although part of me wants my friend to talk to the Japanese media (he did spill the beans to me), I don't want to see him lose his job or ruin his career, either.
Professor Benedetto was right: It's better to keep your distance from your sources.
This is my first-ever blog entry. Woohoo.
Fumiko Hattori

My First Day...of Grad School

I walked into the breakfast for bootcamp students feeling like I was back in elementary school on the first day of classes. Ironic, since just three months ago I was standing in that same hallway making happy hour plans with my friends as we planned our last few hurrahs before graduation. Now I stood in the same space, thinking to myself, "It's finally here. I'm officially a grad student."

You probably think I know it all, since I went to AU for undergrad for print journalism and already know the lay of the land (or at least how to read a metro map). And to some extent, you are right. I know what an inverted pyramid is, I've learned AP style, and I know the difference between an anecdotal lede and a news lede. But being in class from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is never easy.

On a more positive note, I am happy to have decided on grad school at AU. Not to be corny, but sitting in bootcamp and going over journalism basics made me grateful for my educational experience here. I really learned a lot in undergrad and I'm excited to see how much I learn in grad school here.

I'm not used to this blogging thing, but I figure I might as well get used to it, seeing as how I'm an aspiring journalist and all. I should know how to do it all, right?

It's only the second day and I'm already exhausted. But I've also learned A LOT. I'm excited for the days ahead, minus the long class sessions. If I can get through these three weeks successfully (rather, WHEN I get through it successfully) I'll know that I'm one step closer to knowing how to do it all (or most of it, anyway), and reading my name on a masthead.

-Keosha Johnson-

I am the busiest person alive!

Someone had once told me, give the most amount of work to the busiest person and you'll surely get that work done, give it to the person with the least on his plate and it will never never get done. Somehow I am still coming to terms with that piece of advice, especially after this long first day at the bootcamp! I make a mental note of all the things I must do and if I might for a wee bit of a while use this space as my to do list, I realise I have some mammoth research sites to visit. I have to get my VAIO working on the wireless front as some of the comp lab computers are slow too slow! I have approximately 40 pages of reading due tomorrow....and am I still nibbling on my dinner or am I already half asleep??I think I'll dream of Walter Reed and Dick Cheney tonight...

But the meanest thing of all is that Barnes and Nobles doesn't deliver on time, leaving me to Xerox all the time. I have no clue what is the difference between 2007 elections and 2008 elections or are they the same. And why during class do we keep moving all the time between two rooms divided by a corridor in a line?

I am tired ...good night.

First Day Jitters

I have just arrived at home in Gaithersburg, Maryland at the end of the first day of Bootcamp. Right off the bat, I have had some of my expectations reversed: the number of women in our class, the number of people who have come from so far away to attend AU (you all make me feel lazy for complaining about my commute!) and the number of people who did not get their undergrad degrees in journalism. On the other hand, some of my expectations were confirmed, Professor Benedetto and Morrison's welcome emphasis on media convergence, my already-constant desire for prodigious amounts of coffee throughout the class and the fact that I was way too dressed up for the first day of class.
So right now, I am putting together a To-Buy list of needed items: definitely, a folder for the already- massive amounts of paper in my book bag, a zip drive and a SMALL reporting notebook that will actually fit in my purse next to my stash of Diet Coke.
Given the variety of experiences and backgrounds in our class, I would like to ask everyone to drop a line in their first post and tell me what they are taking for their elective class in the fall and why. First, I have a selfish reason -- I was talking to a classmate today who will be taking photography and I realized what a great option that would be for me in the spring, seeing as I am interested in print journalism and need to branch out a little. That said, this fall I will be taking a history course "America Through Immigrant Eyes."
As I said in class, I am married to a Peruvian immigrant and I wrote my undergrad thesis based on fieldwork with Afghan refugees in the U.S. I can't wait to take a look at the sweep of issues grouped under immigration and I welcome the chance to do a little bit of "fun" reading among all the HTML and journalism seminars this fall.

Welcome Bootcampers!

During the next few weeks you will be asked to submit at least three blog entries to this site. There are no rules about what you must write, however we suggest that at least one of your postings relate to the field of journalism and/or the changing media landscape.

Both Prof. Benedetto and Prof. Morrison and Cara will be checking the blog regularly to make sure that everyone is contributing. Your participation on this site will count towards your final participation grade in this course.

You are not limited to just three postings, feel free to write as often as you like. This is your chance to get to know the people that you will be spending the next year with, so take advantage.

Have Fun!!