Re: Journalism Ethics

[Dib9@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/6/00 8:59:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Chuckigo writes:

<< when a "commentator" slips on the mantle of news reporter/journalist, does 
he or she lose credibility when they report the facts? >>

A commentator is paid for his or her opinion.  A journalist is supposedly 
objectively reporting the facts.  When someone paid to provide opinions also 
does ads, I do not see a conflict.  When someone who is supposed to be a 
reporter uses some of their credibility for commercial purposes, I do see a 
problem.

As a capitalist, I do not have any problem with what Doug and Kim or anyone 
else is paid.  You mentioned that some news people resent the $75 talent fee 
that a jock may pick up for doing and ad.  I was just pointing out that I 
don't think that is the case here.

As for the sale of these tapes: I have no objection to a station selling such 
a tape.  I only disagree with a person who brings us the news trying to use 
their credibility as a journalist to get viewers to buy the tape.  I also 
have no objection to talent being compensated for their role in such 
productions, though I agree with Chuck that in the case of the Op Sail tape, 
the talent is not getting paid anything more.

As for Chuck's comparisons to other professions, that's my point!  It used to 
be that there was a hard and fast rule that journalists do not do ads.  
Journalists used to look down on Mike Wallace because he did ads before he 
was a journalist.  Now it's OK for the anchor of the 6PM News to do ads?

-- Dan Billings, Bowdoinham, Maine