PressEthic

Day one of the journalism school’s Press Ethics course and the first discussion we have is about objectivity. Can we achieve it? Should we even try?

Friday’s New York Post had an article buried on page 12 titled “Galleries’ Cheap ‘Shots’” about a current art exhibit at Cooper Union that criticizes the war in Iraq. You’re thinking, “C’mon Tonya. This is the Post. PageSix, remember?” But bear with me.

Among the artworks is a cover for a non-existent magazine called “Friendly Fire” that features a picture of Pat Tillman (the NFL player who enlisted and was killed by friendly fire in Iraq) with the words: “My death was tragic. My glory was short-lived. Flawed perceptions of myself, my country and the War on Terror resulted in a disastrous end to my life.” The Post writer, Tom Topousis, says the piece “pokes fun at a national hero.”

At this point, we all know a few things: Rupert Murdoch is the Chairman and CEO at News Corporation, which owns the New York Post and Fox News Channel, among other things. And, Fox News has obvious ideological leanings. The documentary “Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism” is a 77-minute presentation of what producer and director Robert Greenwald says is evidence that Murdoch and company force employees to present news that tows the Republican party line.

Now, I don’t personally know if what Greenwald says is true or, if it is, that it affects the staff at the Post. But Mr. Topousis decided to put his name on something that, though appearing in the News section, is clear op-ed. Who is he to judge whether the piece “pokes fun?” Art is up for interpretation. Perhaps the artist meant this piece to be a tribute to Tillman, something that would add value to his legacy by aiding in an end to the war. We should be encouraged to check it out for ourselves.

In the wake of Katrina, with confirmation hearings for Supreme Court chief justice-wannabe John Roberts beginning today, and a New York City primary for the Democratic mayoral candidate tomorrow, this may seem a minor thing. (Speaking of minor things, did I mention that there’s a primary for the New York Democratic candidate for mayor tomorrow?) But journalists are stepping it up after the hurricane disaster and it shouldn’t stop there.

Why should we be OK with irresponsible journalism, no matter where it is? And why shouldn’t we hold individual journalists accountable, even if it’s “just a tabloid”? According to its website, the Post reaches 686,207 readers Monday through Friday, making it the “fastest growing metropolitan newspaper in the country.” In other words, gaggles of people are reading this paper every day. Certainly, we journalists should try to be objective when our articles appear in the news section, even if the news is reported after PageSix.