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Rules to admire...

(7 posts)

  1. spatny
    Member

    I saw those commercial threads here that have now been removed, and then I saw this tonight on the Newshour, and thought it worth posting...

    Jim Lehrer’s Rules of Journalism
    I practice journalism in accordance with the following guidelines:
    • Do nothing I cannot defend.
    • Do not distort, lie, slant or hype.
    • Do not falsify facts or make up quotes.
    • Cover, write and present every story with the care I would want if the story were about me.
    • Assume there is at least one other side or version to every story.
    • Assume the viewer is as smart and caring and good a person as I am.
    • Assume the same about all people on whom I report.
    • Assume everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
    • Assume personal lives are a private matter until a legitimate turn in the story mandates otherwise.
    • Carefully separate opinion and analysis from straight news stories and clearly label it as such.
    • Do not use anonymous sources or blind quotes except on rare and monumental occasions. No one should ever be allowed to attack another anonymously.
    • Do not broadcast profanity or the end result of violence unless it is an integral and necessary part of the story and/or crucial to its understanding.
    • Acknowledge that objectivity may be impossible but fairness never is.
    • Journalists who are reckless with facts and reputations should be disciplined by their employers.
    • My viewers have a right to know what principles guide my work and the process I use in their practice.
    • I am not in the entertainment business.
    -Jim Lehrer

    Posted Friday May 13, 2011 18:57 #

  2. CuriousResident
    Member

    I know nothing about Lehrer, but like his list.

    It reminds me of an anon blogger recently "calling out" the Landmark on their apparent lack of like journalist guidelines.

    The spite seems to be coming from the Landmark not from RB.

    I suggest that Mr. Uphues and the Landmark should not only sharpen their pencils but should spend some time at RB and see what is really going on.

    Unfortunately, I am told by that RB staff, that Bob Uphues and Bob Skolnik have lost credibility and trust from many RB staff.

    Perhaps the Landmark should consider assigning new people with less bias to cover RB.

    For example, there was a teacher arrested at Nazareth High School for having sex with a student. It was headlines on the evening news. However, the Landmark gave it scant coverage. Isn’t Nazareth part of out neighborhood? Why was it given such little coverage?

    According to teachers at LT, they have their share of fights and arrests. Where is the coverage in the Landmark?

    However, the Landmark has front page stories and Editorials about the Band and a parade.

    They use other front page space to run stories about who donated money to CURB.

    Is this fair coverage?

    Why does the Landmark have such a negative axe to grind in terms of RB?

    We need journalist reform.

    Posted Friday May 13, 2011 20:43 #

  3. Innocent Bystander
    Member

    I agree that the pervert from Nazareth should have been reported in the Landmark. There are many kids from the area who go there, and many alumni live here and contribute. However, the Landmark coverage is Riverside and Brookfield. Most of LT is in La Grange and Western Springs.

    Journalist reform? Really? Have you lodged your complaints about ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, the Tribune? New York Times? Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

    Posted Friday May 13, 2011 23:41 #

  4. CuriousResident
    Member

    Innocent Bystander, just to be clear those are not my words, I found the bloggers post on topic of this thread and (a bit entertaining in it appearing to be) purposefully ironic.

    The "reform" chants about RB have aggrandized the issues and ignored the strengths of RB. In general, I agree with the blogger's post that the Landmark's reporters have not been balanced about RB and primarily present a "half empty" view about RB.

    Posted Saturday May 14, 2011 09:35 #

  5. Innocent Bystander
    Member

    How does the saying go? "If it bleeds, it leads"?

    I am not going to defend the Landmark, but if you complain about the reporting of the Landmark being lopsided in its coverage, how do you feel about the coverage of the mainstream media? Try to find a feel-good story in the Tribune or the Sun-times, or any other news outlet. You may find one---but you'll find many more that aren't. Just the way it is.

    Posted Saturday May 14, 2011 11:49 #

  6. DanielMancoff
    Member

    Mr. Spatny,

    I appreciate your listing. Though we often use the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics in Clarion, I like Lehrer's list in that it is succinct and compassionate.

    I'll almost certainly use it with next year's group of student reporters.

    Thanks for posting it,
    Dan Mancoff

    Posted Monday May 16, 2011 10:08 #

  7. spatny
    Member

    Dan - that's great. Jim Lehrer has shown for decades what first class journalism is. Your students can't go wrong using his rules. I read the Clarion online at the RBHS website. You do a great job...

    Posted Monday May 16, 2011 22:29 #

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