PressEthic

That the proliferation of blogging has transformed otherwise perhaps antiquated forms of news consumption is indisputable. Blogs often break news stories even before news organiztions gather enough evidence to report them, and a resulting influx of citizen journalists has greatly influenced the shifting media landscape we so often discuss. But when bloggers begin to question published articles, accusing the media of spinning stories in order to cater to a specific agenda, it is the journalists that become afflicted.

An article in The New York Times yesterday discussed a controversial AP article that detailed an incident in which six Sunnis were killed violently by a group of Shiites. According to the article, Bloggers questioned the report's validity, citing both Iraqi and American officials' insistence that the event was a rumor.

Evidence of the shifting media landscape has become increasingly apparent recently, and the Pulitzer Prize has taken notice. An article on Editor and Publisher online reported that the Pulitzer Prize will now accept entries from newspapers that contain video and/or interactive graphics. The article states:

Allowing more online material "was the next logical step," said Sig Gissler, administrator of the Pulitzers. "It emphasizes blended journalism and that's where newspapers are today."

Though I rarely have the time or patience to watch daytime television (or any entertainment television at all, for that matter), over the Thanksgiving holiday I had the opportunity to talk to my family about ethical issues in the media, and our conversation turned to The Tyra Banks Show.

The day after being rigorously questioned by Nancy Grace on CNN Headline News in September, Melinda Duckett committed suicide. Now, CNN and Grace are being sued, according to an AP article, because Grace "caused emotional distress that led to the suicide."

Despite a slew of negative reactions to the controversial hit comedy "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," a Kazakh paper has gone so far as to call the movie the film of the year.

MySpace may prove to be the downfall of Justin Seay, more commonly known as one of the inebriated Chi Psi fraternity boys in the hit comedy Borat.

Three Journalists, including the editor-in-chief, from a Danish Newspaper are now on trial for publishing classified documents in 2004. The reports, leaked from the Danish Defense Intelligence Service, asserted that Iraq did not, in fact, have weapons of mass destruction under Saddam Hussein, an AP article today said.

Several Florida newspapers have requested access to a list of those who received government aid after Hurricane Katrina, an AP article reported Tuesday. This is problematic because disseminating such information may invade the privacy of those affected.

Not only has the media been saturated by nasty political advertisements and coverage of alleged political scandals in recent weeks, but the proliferation of blogging and the increased importance of the internet in general have had an enormous impact on this year's midterm elections. Case in point: Wikipedia.

An AP article on ESPN.com today drew attention to New York Mets relief pitcher Guillermo Mota, who has been suspended for 50 games after having been found in violation of MLB's drug policy, which previously warranted a mere 10-game suspension for first-time offenders.

Chevrolet recently unveiled a new advertising campaign for their Chevy Trucks that features a song by John Cougar Mellencamp entitled "Our Country." The commercial includes a montage of historical anecdotes, from the Vietnam War to Hurricane Katrina and even 9/11. Has Chevrolet gone too far?

The Smoking Gun reported today that Jane Pauley is suing The New York Times for interviewing her under false pretenses. Pauley was under the impression that she was giving an interview for a story on mental health, however, her photo and comments were the featured content of an advertorial that ran for an advertising supplement for a drug company.

The Business Section of The New York Times made brief mention today of the possible ethical conflict raised by talk show host Charlie Rose, who is co-hosting a dinner in honor of H. Lee Scott Jr., previous guest to Rose's talk show and Wal-Mart CEO.

Consumers at numerous Chinese restaurants in Austin, Texas will get a surprise when they crack open their fortune cookies to discover, in addition to the expected prophecy, a political advertisement, explained an article in the Washington Post Sunday.

Steve Lyons, baseball analyst for Fox Sports, was fired after making allegedly racially-charged comments Friday during game 3 of the ALCS. Evidently these remarks weren't the first offensive comments he has made on the air, though they would be the last.