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Sources and Friends: Relationships in Need of Clarity
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Small town ethics
Posted by
Harlan Porter
8/3/2005 10:40:49 PM
I think sometimes that our general ethics considerations fail to take into consideration the small town publication, and there are a whole bunch...
I think sometimes that our general ethics considerations fail to take into consideration the small town publication, and there are a whole bunch of small newspapers in this country.
Local officials and businessmen, if they're smart, attend a multitude of community functions, as does the editor/publisher/reporter. If friendships don't happen, there's something a little unnatural there.
What a lonely place it would be to work for 20 years if the small-town journalist couldn't also be friends with the mayor, school administrator, etc.
Ground rules are important. I have no problem being up-front with my friends. There have been numerous times when a friend has asked me to keep something out of the paper; that's a sure way to get it into the paper. It sometimes makes them mad, but most -- nearly all -- tell me that they respect me for that. They know that if they mess up, it's going to be on my front page.
For all the hoopla over objectivity, every story we take on, every story placement, every word choice, paragraph and headline belies some prejudice. It is our duty, therefore, to apply a fairness factor. One must ask himself: Am I doing the right thing?
It is no different when writing about a friend, albeit more difficult.
There have been times when I have stopped covering a board and sent a different reporter in my stead, not because I was too friendly with the source but because I was too angry at him.
That's the flip side of this argument. I've seen editors go out of their way to harm public officials that they didn't like. That is as harmful if not moreso than doing a favor for a source.
I think you're only too close to a source if it affects your judgment. The trick is to recognize that and to act accordingly.
Ethical situations
Posted by
Frank Mowry
8/3/2005 11:44:12 AM
Mr. Pimentel,
Outstanding article!
I believe you've captured the ethics of this issue in an understandable way. Actually, I can see how this ap...
Mr. Pimentel,
Outstanding article!
I believe you've captured the ethics of this issue in an understandable way. Actually, I can see how this applies to other professions, all we need to do is change journalist to politician, or to some type of business, or to teacher, doctor, lawyer, etc.
I'm sure we've all experience the difficulties of friendship vs. source and the need to get our jobs done.
I'm a former Navy journalist, currently working with the Bureau of Land Management, and your article strikes a cord of similarity. Unless there is a problem, I would like to share your article with others, and use it as a foundation for a similar 'in house' article (a copy of which I would gladly forward to you, if/when completed).
I would appreciate hearing more from you on these issues.
Despite my not being a full-time active journalist, I am still very much a part of the community and do try to keep myself aware of the many issues confronting our chosen profession (or as some call it - trade).
Thank you again for writing such an excellent article.
With respect,
F. Mowry
[e] Mao-O-Ri@att.net
Miami Herald Suicide
Posted by
Rhiannon Williams
8/2/2005 4:20:10 PM
This article is timely in light of the recent scandal and firing of a Miami Herald reporter who recorded a conversation with a friend and...
This article is timely in light of the recent scandal and firing of a Miami Herald reporter who recorded a conversation with a friend and city councilman who was very depressed. The friend committed suicide in the lobby of the Miami Herald building shortly thereafter. Any thoughts on the ethics of that situation?
friends first
Posted by
Jeff Inglis
8/2/2005 2:26:48 PM
Good column - all good reminders. Whenever I've been unsure, I err on the side of assuming the person is treating me as a friend,...
Good column - all good reminders. Whenever I've been unsure, I err on the side of assuming the person is treating me as a friend, and don't take things on the record. Instead, I take those comments as tips from anonymous sources. (And who knows if they're true anyway, even if it is from a friend?)
In one case, a good friend of mine from college was hired as a teacher in a town where I covered the schools. I didn't do any stories on her per se, but she gave me story ideas about students and student groups that I then followed up with them.
In another case, I was having beers with a friend in a small community where we both worked. She started venting about work, and I listened, as a friend. She said a couple of things that piqued my news interest, but I didn't follow up on them then.
The next morning, when I was back at work and so was she, I called her up, introduced myself the same way I always do to potential sources, and said the following, roughly:
"I was interested in doing a story about some of the things you were talking about yesterday over beers. I won't use any of the things you said then in my article, but I wanted to talk to you or someone else there, on the record, about some of the issues involved."
She then transferred me over to her supervisor, and I conducted a regular interview. She later told me she appreciated my interest, my candor and my discretion.
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