PressEthic

A blogger uncovers a scandal ... and mainstream media steals his scoop.

There’s room for everyone in New York right… even the Mets?

It has been one week since tragedy struck the small Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. Americans are still engulfed by the story of the schoolhouse massacre and remain inundated with constant updates on each detail of that loathsome morning, paining to make sense of the horrible events.

Yet it may be a week still until the topic is covered in the Amish newspaper, if the community chooses to address the horrific day at all.

Cameron Crowe did it years ago and the product, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, became a sensational cult classic.

Fifteen years later, a 24-year old Stanford graduate enrolls undercover in a local public high school and chronicles what he sees. The result is High School Confidential, a new book by Jeremy Iversen.

But what is Iversen's true intent?

"Enough is enough," says Los Angeles Times publisher, Jeff Johnson. At last, someone comes to the defense of the seemingly battered journalistic enterprise. Will he lose his job over it?

By definition, a licensing fee is a fee paid to the government for the privilege of being licensed to do something (such as sell liquor or practice medicine). But a fee to be mentioned in the news?

It's difficult for most in the industry to conceptualize. It's just the way things have always been - a writer has an editor. And we need them. Or do we?

Female news anchors have been excessively analyzed in the news lately, with Katie Couric taking over the CBS evening news and Meredith Viera moving to The Today Show. As media pundits have critiqued these women’s every move, rating fluctuation and outfit change, one female newswoman has created a stir of controversy that is getting less attention.

The advent of new media has made certain that advertising is no longer found only in the traditional places one might expect. We read book and movie reviews, check out the new season lineups and watch to the very end of our favorite programs to see the scenes for next week – but what else is influencing our choices?

Does the prevalence of money and glamour in popular media encourage young people to do whatever it takes to get ahead? What role does media have in perpetuating unrealistic ideals for American youth and encouraging kids to do whatever it takes to attain them?

How is the most trusted news source in the country to react when pressed by our nation’s own government to keep controversial information under wraps, under the pretext of protecting national security?