Being a Professional Journalist 7 Deadly Sins Being a Professional Journalist

Deception What is it? When is it ok? EXAMPLE: Nellie Bly 1800s Lying or misinterpreting yourself to obtain information When is it ok? Usually never. Some exceptions may be ok, such as when you are investigating a con artist or social injustice EXAMPLE: Nellie Bly 1800s Posed as a chorus girl, working in a sweatshop, getting imprisoned and being commited to a mental hospital Deception

Conflict of Interest What is it? When is it ok? Accepting gifts or favors from sources or promoting social and political causes Free meals, movie tickets, stock tips, a nice job as “media adviser” if you help me out When is it ok? NEVER EXAMPLE: Armstrong Williams 2005 Accepted $240,000 from the Bush administration to promote “No Child Left Behind” Conflict of Interest

Bias What is it? When is it ok? EXAMPLE: CBS News 2004 Slanting a story by manipulating facts to sway readers’ opinions When is it ok? NEVER EXAMPLE: CBS News 2004 Used questionable documents to dispute George W. Bush’s military record. They were accused of “liberal bias” out to “get” Bush Bias

Fabrication What is it? EXAMPLE: Janet Cooke, 1981, Washington Post Manufacturing quotes or imaginary source, or writing anything you know to be untrue EXAMPLE: Janet Cooke, 1981, Washington Post Forced to return Pulitzer prize for a story about “Jimmy” an 8-year-old heroin addict. The boy was fake, made up of several children’s issues Fabrication

Theft What is it? EXAMPLE: 1998 Cincinnati Enquirer Obtaining information unlawfully or without a source’s permission EXAMPLE: 1998 Cincinnati Enquirer Published 18-page report exposing Chiquita Bananas of corrupt business practices Reporter stole 2,000 voice mails Paper had to pay $14 million Theft

Burning a Source What is it? Deceiving or betraying the confidence of those who provide information for a story EXAMPLE: 1982 Minnesota Gubernatorial race Consultant leaked damaging documents was promised anonymity, but name was printed anyway and the consultant was fired. Burning a Source

What is it? Passing off someone else’s words or ideas as your own “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Ask what you can do for America. Don’t ask what America can do for you. Don’t ask what your country can do for you, Kennedy said; instead “as what you can do for your country Plagiarism