Today’s discussion was about journalist ethics regarding lying. The first thing we learned in the handbook was to seek truth. It is unethical to seek truth by lying. If you have to lie to contract evidence and create a story, you shouldn’t report on it to begin with. Credibility in the world takes years to form, and one small situation/bad decision to destroy completely. If a journalist gets caught lying, who would want to share their story or even hire that person on? If you are going to just report, documentary, book, etc, eliminate bias. Be aware of it, and try to get rid of it. Objectivity is what a professional does. IF you’re going to influence it with your opinion, you have to label it and say it is a fiction. Once you put your own bias in it, you are not reporting anymore. Then, investigate the answers (eye-witness is least reliable) and see how accurate the information is. Ultimately, you can call your story whatever you want i.e. fictional story of true events.
The Journalist and the Murderer: non-fiction fiction
The conclusion of Malcolm’s investigation makes it clear there is a very fine line between presenting yourself as a sympathetic listener and pretending to be a friend. Malcolm never provides any conclusive proof or opinion regarding the guilt or innocence of Jeffrey MacDonald. The opinions and assertions of the people Malcolm interviews are never supported or finally proven. The only absolute she does assert at the end of the narrative is the absolute of ethical journalism. Malcolm provides no clear definition of ethics, but she does hold the ethics of journalism cannot be situational or gratuitous. Journalists are given a great amount of power, they provide the news and shape the world’s understanding of itself, and it is extremely important they hold to a certain code of ethics regardless of their subjects or circumstances.