PressEthic

Relatively unknown as a Media Studies professor, Michael Tracy is the man whom delivered John Mark Karr -- the self-professed and short-lived killer of JonBenet Ramsey as well as an aficionado of child pornography -- to the world.

But in helping Boulder prosecutors with the undercover operation, Tracy stepped into some murky territory, according to a story by Allan Wolper in Editor and Publisher.

A former Washington Post reporter openly discussed and unveiled his liberal biases in several interviews during the course of promoting a new book.

Anything but tight-lipped, Thomas Edsall, a senior political reporter for the venerated Post, casually admitted his liberal leanings, easing his conscience and aiding conservative camps who claim liberal biases in the media. Of course, Edsall’s new book, "Building Red America: The New Conservative Coalition and the Drive for Permanent Power," examines conservative tactics.

The press walks a fine line between reporting the news and broadcasting agendas of hatred. Never is this more evident than in the case of Fred Phelps and his hateful band of followers who have created a buzz around the country with their provocative act.

Proclaiming that homosexuals will spend an enternity in Hell, Phelps leads an extreme Christian religious group and has created a stir by protesting funerals around America. Recently, his group protested funerals of U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq.

Phase II of the Foley scandal is underway, as The Washington Times called for House Speaker Dennis Hastert's resignation. In the op/ed, "Resign, Mr. Speaker," Hastert was taken to task for not doing enough.

Accounts of Rep. Mark Foley's behavior reaches the nadir of decorum, but news coverage of the scandal has not been pretty either. On the ABC News web site, a picture of Foley smiling is superimposed over empty liquor and wine glasses below a headline: "Foley Runs to Rehab: Will It Work? "

In an effort to demarcate between news and opinion, The New York Times has adopted new labels for pieces that are opinion. In last Sunday’s Op-Ed Page, Public Editor Byron Calame explains the change and expounds on the fine line.

Two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, were sentenced to 18 months in jail for failing to reveal their source in the BALCO scandal, while two superstar players -- Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi -- invovled in illegal steroid use continue to play in Major League Baseball.

In an interview in The New York Times Magazine last Sunday, Lee Siegel, cultural critic for the New Republic, answers questions regarding his unethical behavior on his blog at the magazine, using an anonymous name to answer blistering criticism for his work. Siegel also used the nom de plume to praise his work as well.

When asked about what he did, Siegel says, "Of course it was wrong, and I am sorry I did it. I lost my footing and foolishly answered my anonymous detractors with misplaced satire." While initially admitting blame for what he had done, Siegel’s tone changes rapidly.

Ethics is under further siege at Hewlett-Packard, and to handle leaks from their company to the newsrooms, they used a play from the days of the Cold War. According to today’s New York Times, "Hewlett-Packard conducted feasibility studies on planting spies in news bureaus of two major publications...."

With his conscience in the clear and millions in the bank, the NFL becomes the criminal through a wonderful case of transference. Though it is absurd to suggest that the NFL forced Romanowski to take steroids, the league is guilty of another crime: turning a blind eye. What has league done in the year since the admission? Nothing, which is a de facto endorsement of this illegal behavior, as Bill still wears his Super Bowl rings.

I started my first newspaper job as the editor of a little, 5,000 circulation weekly 30 miles outside of New Orleans. With a staff of three, I was as green as they come and working in the middle of nowhere. I had never thought of ethics. I was just glad to have a real job, and I was the editor. I loved that title, but I was about to learn what came with it: responsibility.

Awful things happen in awful places. Those that go there—brave and brazen reporters—bring back news from the dark corners of the world. The public relies on these brave souls to illuminate and tell the tales for the entire world. They are the ears, the eyes, and the conscience for us.

Sudan is one such place, and American journalist Paul Salopek is one such individual. According an Associated Press article by Felicia Fonseca, "Salopek, 44, was on assignment for National Geographic magazine when he was arrested Aug. 6 and accused of passing information illegally, writing 'false news' and entering the African country without a visa."