Journalistic malpractice
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 and corrupts the public. 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, outright factual inaccuracies, promotion of fact-free journalism or falsehood-spreading. One of journalists' goals is to selectively edit statements to hide facts [1] or to perpetrate falsehoods [2] or hide unflattering stories of like-minded individuals. [3] [4] Another is to repeat falsehoods so that an issue dear to their agenda is kept alive in the publics' mind.[5] Another unethical tactic is to report "off the record" statements in a deception of the journalist's sources and interviewees. 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.[6]
Journalist comments
Michael Hastings, formerly of Newsweek, had an assignment to write behind-the-scenes stories for Newsweek about the presidential campaigns. He admits upfront that "objectivity is just a fallacy for reporters." [7]
Journalism and Iraq
There were many instances of corruption within this elite group of journalists. Howard Kurtz of CNN accurately pointed out on "Reliable Sources," few media outlets seemed at all interested in giving much attention to the great news out of Iraq last week regarding September's sharp decline in casualties. [8]
Documented video
References
- â Two Weeks Out, Campaign Goes to Last Place Obama Wants it to Be Rush Limbaugh, October 21, 2008
- â Bozell on the Palin Book-Burning Myth NewsBusters.org, September 22, 2008
- â 'Today' Pumps Bachmann 'Million Dollar Mistake,' Still Ignores Mahoney Scandal Newsbusters.org, October 22, 2008
- â How Did Edwards Affair Stay Hidden? Gawker.com, July 22, 2008
- â Journalistic Malpractice in "Marriage is Dead" Report, Michael Medved, Townhall.com, January 18, 2007
- â Connie Chung interview with the Gingriches Warning: insulting word appears at end of interview transcript.
- â Former Newsweek Campaign Reporter: 'Objectivity Is a Fallacy' Newsbusters.org, October 22, 2008
- â âJournalistsâ Tell Howard Kurtz Why Good News from Iraq Shouldnât Get Reported NewsBusters, October 7, 2007