PressEthic

On Friday September 9, Michael Brown, head of FEMA, was relieved of his duties as head of the recovery effort in New Orleans, and was sent back to Washington to resume his other duties – and to try to repair the damage to his reputation. Brown predictably blamed the press for his predicament, both publicly and privately. In an e-mail sent to his family and friends he writes, “This country is devouring itself, the 24-hour news cycle is numbing our ability to think for ourselves.”

While it has become popular for politicians and public figures to blame the so-called “liberal media” for various problems, in this case, Brown is spot-on – not about the news numbing people’s minds, but certainly that the media and its efforts to shed light on this horrendous situation are directly to blame for his return to DC. To my mind, this is proof that the press has done its job. There has been a lot of debate lately as to whether the media as a whole crossed the objectivity line in its questioning of Brown, becoming too emotionally involved in asking him where the help was, why it wasn’t coming to New Orleans. However it is clear to all that Brown was simply not doing his job. The fact that the media’s efforts to hold him accountable have led to his return to Washington leads me to believe that not only has the media not crossed that line, but that it needs to keep pushing and demanding answers.

Brown is certainly not the only public official to drop the ball when it comes to the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. Michael Chertoff is another name that comes to mind. If the press can shed light on the inadequacies of the men charged with protecting this country – whether from the effects of a hurricane or a terrorist attack – then it needs to do it now rather than later. If a bit more emotional involvement will help, it behooves the media to toe that ethical line more often.