The main role of a journalist is to
be a watchdog for the community. They covet acting as protectors and guardians of the community against
inefficiency and illegal practices. Although there is no philosophical
model for this watchdog approach, there is a modern “Code of Ethics” sustained
by the Society of Professional Journalists.
This code is based on three key journalistic
elements: being constitutional, credible and courageous, while upholding the
standard to seek the truth. The PBS Frontline Video, the Murdock Scandal, shows the terribly negative effects of
dishonoring this code…
News Corporation, established by
Rupert Murdock in 1979, is the world’s second largest mass media industry in
history. In 2006 the fight began against Murdock’s company for allegedly
hacking voice mail-boxes in order to engrave a selling gossip column, The News of the World. Over the next
seven years, the spies and lies unfold revealing News Corp to be a substantial
offender of SPJ’s Code of Ethics. After this revelation,
all ethical notions of this company were lost and countless public relations
representatives, editors, and police officials were forced to resign; including
police chief Paul Stevenson, special advisor Neil Wallace, editor John Yates,
and publishing chief Rebekah Brooks. In the end, Murdock had all the money he
could ask for; all the connections he needed; all the power he wanted, but had
no ethical creditability, which
single handedly choked his most precious tabloid. His two favorite currencies,
money and gossip, were not only useless, but now worth not even a dime.
So in
the end, being ethical really does conquer all.
Serves you right, ya liars.
ps... I think this is really funny.
Why don't we make one?
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