Media Needs to Do Their Job

In the Preamble to its Code of Ethics, the Society of Professional Journalism declares:

One doctor warns the encroachment of health and medical marketing threatens journalistic integrity.(ABC News Photo Illustration)
... public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy ... Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty.

We should strive to be independent from the agendas and timetables of journals, advocates, and industry and government agencies. We should nourish and encourage original and analytical reporting that provides audiences/readers with context.

Although the writer is talking about writing medical articles, these ethics should apply to all journalists. At least the reputable ones. I am not nearly optimistic enough to hope that one day Perez Hilton will write articles eligible for the Pulitzer Prize, but is it too much to ask to get some factual reporting without the bias from supposedly legitimate journalists.

Since I have already mentioned the waste of human DNA, let's look at Mr Hilton's journlaistic contributions. Lately he reported Kate Jackson near death from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Did a fat little fairy give him his facts or was he just spinning the wheel and using what lie came up? Granted, he is the bottom of the barrell, but even legitimate news seems to be a higher class of lies and misinformation.

I have always believed that news is to educate the public based on facts. Now I feel like the media decides the facts and reports based on opinions the haved already formed. Take the recent case of the so called "balloon boy." The media decided it was a hoax on day 1 long before law enforcement. Now it may turn out that it was all for show, but consider what if it isn't. This kid is being hounded, the dad lost his reality show and the parents face criminal charges. All based on stories written before any real facts emerged. The media outlets are more interested in scooping each other rather than reporting the truth. Maybe it is an after effect of the Susan Smith debacle? They certainly bought her bullshit in the beginning didn't they?

I just think it is a sad state of affairs when you have to fact check the news story you just read. It is time we demand the FACTS and not the writer's opinion or the version of the story that is more sensational. We need to stop reading the bullshit until there is a journlaist who is willing to give us the unvarnished facts, the truth and nothing but the truth.