Siteadmin, Check users, oversight, Administrators
20,682
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 2:
Line 2: + + Line 7:
Line 9: + +
Journalistic malpractice (view source)
Revision as of 02:10, February 23, 2010
, 02:10, February 23, 2010add additional content
'''Journalistic malpractice''' is a term used to describe the once objective field of [[journalism]] which has now been reduced to ideology and slander. It is attributed to people within the [[mainstream media]] and old-media, but not exclusively. Their failure as a group willfully misleads, manipulates and distorts the public.
'''Journalistic malpractice''' is a term used to describe the once objective field of [[journalism]] which has now been reduced to ideology and slander. It is attributed to people within the [[mainstream media]] and old-media, but not exclusively. Their failure as a group willfully misleads, manipulates and distorts the public.
{{cquote|Reporters have fabricated facts or made up entire stories at some of the country's biggest newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and The New Republic.}}
Objective journalism was once the cornerstone of [[America]]'s [[democracy]]. When objectivity is replaced with malpractice then the media loses credibility. Without credibility, journalism becomes error-filled, journalistic failure, reckless journalism, Gotcha! tabloid-like reporting, scaremongering or [[yellow journalism]], outright factual inaccuracies, promotion of fact-free journalism or falsehood-spreading.
Objective journalism was once the cornerstone of [[America]]'s [[democracy]]. When objectivity is replaced with malpractice then the media loses credibility. Without credibility, journalism becomes error-filled, journalistic failure, reckless journalism, Gotcha! tabloid-like reporting, scaremongering or [[yellow journalism]], outright factual inaccuracies, promotion of fact-free journalism or falsehood-spreading.
One of journalists' corrupt goals is to manipulate or selectively edit statements to hide facts <ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_102108/content/01125112.guest.html Two Weeks Out, Campaign Goes to Last Place Obama Wants it to Be] Rush Limbaugh, October 21, 2008</ref> or to perpetrate falsehoods <ref>[http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2008/09/22/bozell-palin-book-burning-myth Bozell on the Palin Book-Burning Myth] NewsBusters.org, September 22, 2008</ref> or hide unflattering stories of like-minded individuals. <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/geoffrey-dickens/2008/10/22/today-pumps-bachmann-million-dollar-mistake-still-ignores-mahoney- 'Today' Pumps Bachmann 'Million Dollar Mistake,' Still Ignores Mahoney Scandal] Newsbusters.org, October 22, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://gawker.com/5028026/how-did-edwards-affair-stay-hidden How Did Edwards Affair Stay Hidden?] Gawker.com, July 22, 2008</ref>
One of journalists' corrupt goals is to manipulate or selectively edit statements to hide facts <ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_102108/content/01125112.guest.html Two Weeks Out, Campaign Goes to Last Place Obama Wants it to Be] Rush Limbaugh, October 21, 2008</ref> or to perpetrate falsehoods <ref>[http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2008/09/22/bozell-palin-book-burning-myth Bozell on the Palin Book-Burning Myth] NewsBusters.org, September 22, 2008</ref> or hide unflattering stories of like-minded individuals. <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/geoffrey-dickens/2008/10/22/today-pumps-bachmann-million-dollar-mistake-still-ignores-mahoney- 'Today' Pumps Bachmann 'Million Dollar Mistake,' Still Ignores Mahoney Scandal] Newsbusters.org, October 22, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://gawker.com/5028026/how-did-edwards-affair-stay-hidden How Did Edwards Affair Stay Hidden?] Gawker.com, July 22, 2008</ref>
Another is to repeat falsehoods so that an issue dear to their agenda is kept alive in the public's mind.<ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/MichaelMedved/2007/01/18/journalistic_malpractice_in_marriage_is_dead_report Journalistic Malpractice in "Marriage is Dead" Report], Michael Medved, ''Townhall.com'', January 18, 2007</ref> Another unethical tactic is to report "off the record" statements in a deception of the journalist's sources and [[interviewee]]s. Most famously, [[Connie Chung]] interviewed [[Newt Gingrich]]'s parents and solicited Gingrich's mother to repeat an insult he said in private about [[Hillary Clinton]]. Chung plied the information from Mrs. Gingrich with the lie: "Why don't you just whisper it to me? Just between you and me", falsely implying that she had no intent to repeat or [[broadcast]] the comment.<ref>[http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2002/cyb20020123_extra.asp#2 Connie Chung interview with the Gingriches] Warning: insulting word appears at end of interview transcript.</ref>
Another is to repeat falsehoods so that an issue dear to their agenda is kept alive in the public's mind.<ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/MichaelMedved/2007/01/18/journalistic_malpractice_in_marriage_is_dead_report Journalistic Malpractice in "Marriage is Dead" Report], Michael Medved, ''Townhall.com'', January 18, 2007</ref> Another unethical tactic is to report "off the record" statements in a deception of the journalist's sources and [[interviewee]]s. Most famously, [[Connie Chung]] interviewed [[Newt Gingrich]]'s parents and solicited Gingrich's mother to repeat an insult he said in private about [[Hillary Clinton]]. Chung plied the information from Mrs. Gingrich with the lie: "Why don't you just whisper it to me? Just between you and me", falsely implying that she had no intent to repeat or [[broadcast]] the comment.<ref>[http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2002/cyb20020123_extra.asp#2 Connie Chung interview with the Gingriches] Warning: insulting word appears at end of interview transcript.</ref>
Roy Peter Clark, a journalism scholar at the Poynter Institute says that journalistic malpractice is not a new phenomenon and pre-dates the internet by decades. "Classic forms of journalistic malpractice, going back decades, are making stuff up, ripping other writers off, and the third is peddling special interests without letting the reader know. <ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10457705-261.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1 Frauds: An ugly, old journalism tradition, CNET, February 22, 2010]</ref>
Rep. Lamar Smith (R) of Texas is a member of the newly formed Media Member Caucus saying, "media bias is the “greatest threat to our democracy today.” <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/kessler/media_bias_House_caucus/2009/06/03/221014.html GOP House Members Form Caucus To Fight Media Bias] NewsMax, June 3, 2009</ref>
Rep. Lamar Smith (R) of Texas is a member of the newly formed Media Member Caucus saying, "media bias is the “greatest threat to our democracy today.” <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/kessler/media_bias_House_caucus/2009/06/03/221014.html GOP House Members Form Caucus To Fight Media Bias] NewsMax, June 3, 2009</ref>