What exactly is media "Integrity"?

[joeunderdog]

There's been a recent (unnamed) media story that has brought up this question, but it's a question that comes up in a much larger context here on DU because we debate the validity, the accuracy, the timeliness and the angle of each "news" source on the DU threads. But having taken a step back to think about the term "integrity" as it gets thrown around here so much, I think it's a far more complex concept than many posters understand.

Integrity is honesty, not accuracy. So when you apply that word, the source's truthfulness is what is at issue. When the source distorts the truth, tells part of the truth or purposefully states things out of context so as to mislead, then the source lacks integrity.

Examples of MSM lying by omission include the entire unresearched, unchallenged March to War, numerous stolen elections and the NYT sitting on the NSA story. Outright fabrications such as TrooperGate and Jessica Lynch's heroic rescue have been created and perpetuated by MSM almost universally. Somehow, the crazy Bloggers were the only ones with true integrity in their presentation of these stories.

Then we get into the sticky stuff like the whole Dan Rather smear. The man was shamed into resignation because other forces made him into the story to spare the ChickenHawk. Just for argument's sake, if we were to say that he was given bad information, then does that make him a journalist without integrity? Nope.

So when we talk about integrity, we have to consider the intention of the reporter, the body of work behind him/her, and their due diligence in pursuit of the truth. And very occasionally we may need to look past some inaccuracies that will happen because of honest mistakes or outright political assassinations of reporters who are off message.

The media sources who discuss Diebold, the lies of BushCo, the Constitutional Crisis will never lose my respect the way MSM has out-Foxed the truth by ignoring and distorting facts, refusing to cover stories and editorializing news for political gains. They turtled on Iraq, they colluded on Swiftboat, they killed Rather, they mothballed NSA and Torture and they were THE essential element of 2 stolen Presidential elections. They are part of the problem, and a LARGE part of the problem.

THEY have no integrity.

[flamin lib]

1. Technical term, synonymous with oxymoron. nt

[SmokingJacket]

11. But it doesn't have to be so.

I think Amy Goodman has integrity, and she is a member of the media.

Denouncing ALL media is wrong.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Integrity is a four letter word to them, when speaking

about this to them just call it inte. They still will not know what you will be talking about, but the puzzled looks on their little faces are priceless.

:kick:

[fooj]

3. Here's the SPJ Code of Ethics...

Code of Ethics
Ethics > SPJ Code of Ethics

Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Seek Truth and Report It

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
Never plagiarize.
Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Minimize Harm

Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Act Independently

Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.

Journalists should:

Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Be Accountable

Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

Journalists should:

Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

****************************************
Always willing to lend a hand...

Peace

[Last Stand]

5. Is this for this country? Someone didn't get the memo.

This looks absolutely nothing like anything that's going on anywhere except the web. How ironic is that? No wonder they want to shut us down.

[fooj]

6. Welcome to DU!

Pathetic, isn't it?

[MrTriumph]

4. "I trust this president." -Dan Rather

In the 9-11 beware-what-you-say stampede, the media willingly abdicated their responsibility to the public. Colbert was dead right.

[Catrina]

7. Thank you for this post. The MSM has gone on despite the dangerous

lies they told about the need for this war. There was no real outrage, not nearly enough, to let them know that we want honesty from the press. It would have been easy, eg, for millions of Americans to simply cancel their subscriptions until changes were made but that didn't happen. So while we complain, we don't use the power we have to do something about it.

Some individual reporters come to mind whenever I think of the run-up to this war.

Judith Miller eg. Her role in so many of the scandals swirling around this administration, has never been investigated. Eg, I recall that she claimed to have security clearance when she went to Iraq and did not know if she still had it when she spoke to Libby. There were some brief comments about the lack of ethics that would have been involved if this were true. And the story just dropped.

There will be a new investigation into the death of Dr. Kelly, and once again, Judith Miller shows up in that story. She kept the fact that she was in communication with him up to the day before he died from the public and we would never have known about had Dr. Kelly's family not revealed it to the press.

Then there was the scandal of the paid pundits ~ I remember at least six of them being named, not to mention the phoney journalist in the WH press corps.

There are so many examples of sloppy reporting, outright lies, fake 'sources' like 'Curveball' and openly partisan reporting it would take a book to post them all.

The bottom line is though, that as long as people keep going back to them, they'll keep working for the corporations ~

[WiseButAngrySara]

8. And once again, I thank YOU for YOUR post! Are you a professional

writer, perchance? Just wondering.

[Catrina]

10. Hi WiseButAngrySara ~ no, not at all ~ but thank you for the compliment

That's very nice of you to say ~ actually, in real life, I hate writing, even a postcard *lol*.

That's why I do have so much respect for those who do it for a living ~ especially the few who work hard to get to the truth. Offhand, there aren't many in the MSM I have much confidence in anymore. There are so few real investigative reporters, like Sy Hersch, eg.

I have learned a lot from ordinary people writing on the Internet and have been amazed at the investigative skills of regular posters, here on DU eg, not to mention their writing skills. Sad to say, without any training many are far better writers and seekers of truth than those we look to keep us informed.

Still, it is a big responsibility and while it's easy to criticize them, I wonder how much pressure many are under not to publish stories that are important, or to slant them in favor of the government or coporate point of view.

I read about two Fox reporters who were asked to do a report on an environmental story, I think it was. They did it and their editors liked it but right before it was to be aired, Corporations demanded that they change certain elements of the story ~ they refused since that would have meant lying. They were fired. They sued and won, but on appeal, Fox stated that a news organization is not obliged to tell the truth ~ iow, there was no actual law saying this. The judge agreed and the Reporters lost the case. I found that to be incredible ~

I think many reporters who would like to do a good job, are fearful ~ others however seem not to care about doing what is right ~

Anyway, thank you for your comments ~ love your posts also ~ :-)

[WiseButAngrySara]

9. Fascinating and timely question and thread. The SPJ Code of Ethics

needs to be read thoroughly and understood; it is a pipe dream of the author of it, as it stands now. American Journalists have to love their duty to truth, and the dignity and responsibility of their professions again, IMHO. Read Catrina's post to get a very clear and concise explanation as to how we are all to blame for this in some part.

:kick: and R! and thanks for posting....

[BlooInBloo]

12. The name of a great work of fiction that actual journalists read....

... when they go home at night, wondering why the population hates them.

Colbert talked about it, I believe.