A great discussion topic from a 202-er:
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Hi Katy,
I'm sure you've heard the dean of the Medill school of journalism at Northwestern was caught possibly using fabricated sources in the alumni magazine. I thought this would be interesting to discuss on the blog. It is really shocking that the dean at the most prestigious journalism school would resort to this- what kind of example does his behavior give to journalists everywhere? Here is the link to the article in the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-northwestern-dean_14feb14,0,4916533.story
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Let's explore this.
I wrote a piece in our alumni newsletter a few years ago and led with a reference to an old city editor of mine. Unlike Lavine's vague memory I recall clearly, actually, stewing a bit over quoting him, grappling with whether to go with "show them" or "show 'em." But I decided the latter was really the way he spoke to me. Honestly, it never occurred to me to name him. I never considered him an "unnamed source." His identity was in no way germane to the story, and I remembered vividly what he had said to me (I routinely saw him as god-like in my reporting infancy).
I also realize now that I did just the same thing with a column I wrote last summer on the ethics of using social networking profiles of crime victims in reporting. The wrap to that story came from a visit I made to a 202 lab to discuss the issue. I recall just as vividly who told me the story and the context in which it was raised. Yet, again, I did not name her and made no conscious decision not to do so.
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Journalism schools are interesting places to play out journalism ethics. So what of it, the dean's and my choices? What of the other sources -- students and faculty members -- refusing to go on the record to discuss the situation? Is it OK to use anonymous sources? If so, in what circumstances? Was the dean's letter "journalism"? Did I do my audiences in both cases a disservice?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Ethics and Medill
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2 comments:
After reading the article, I was initially shocked because it endangers the reputaion of Medill. I think it was definetly inappropriate for the Dean to do this, even if the magazine could be considered a "strategic news" source. Also, the quotes he used weren't even quote-worthy..."I sure felt good about this class. It is one of the best I've taken." There isn't really anything substantial in here.
After sharing the jist of the story with my roommates, they said when they read a quote, regardless of what source they are looking at, they consider it to be what was said. Tying this in with the discussion about altering images that we had in lab this week, readers do trust that what they are reading is factual.
I think it is also a disservice to the alumni at the school, because it goes against what they were taught and the ethics that they practice in their field.
I'm surprised that the Dean, someone so well versed in the practice of journalism, would choose such lame quotes. If he did in fact fabricate them, he could have done a much better job in making them sound dynamic and original. Assuming he did fabricate them, perhaps he kept them bland to avoid them receiving too much attention.
Whatever the case, this story really illustrates how adamant journalists (student journalists too!) are at maintaining credibility for the field, even if that means calling out the dean.
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