I hope ethics is still a required course in journalism school. I also hope journalism students are not asleep when this class is taught. Your integrity as a journalist is all you have these days and I find it quite ridiculous that any journalist (college or professional) would sacrifice that for a “free trip.”
Why do I bring this up?
Well, I was alerted to a posting on Romensko (and received a subsequent e-mail) about a ploy by General Motors to entice college journalists to accept a free trip.
I have a problem with the following portion in bold italic. “GM will pay for travel, hotel and meals for students that attend.”
Generally speaking, I was taught you do not accept gifts (yes…accepting this all-expenses paid thing is a gift) in value over $25 (some media companies have that figure as high as $50 or even $100) from sources that you cover or could conceivable cover in the future. Although the Society of Professional Journalists doesn’t give a dollar figure (most media companies take that upon themselves), SPJ does cover that here.
If General Motors wants to reach the college market, the company should buy an ad in various college newspapers and for college radio and college television stations or the company can put on some show on MTV, BET and VH1. I don’t think any upstanding professional journalist would take this offer or be allowed to go from their media organization with General Motors footing the bill.
If a college student wants to attend this event, the college student should pay their own way or have the college media outlet or the school foot the bill to this event.
That's it from me....I'll let an ethics expert take over from here...
"I read the thread including the pitch from GM and the responses from folks across the land.
I don't think it's ethical for the student journalists to accept this offer.
I don't think it's ethical for professional journalists to accept junkets of this nature.
I don't agree with the argument, as put forth by some of the posters on that list, that it's essential for those covering the automotive industry to accept free trips, free lodging, etc. in order to get access to the key people in the field, to be able to test cars/equipment, etc.
Good journalists find legitimate ways to protect their independence and also to do interviews, test products, and cover events.
This case is about the principle of journalistic independence. Journalists should not put themselves in a position where they are beholden (in reality or even perception) to those they cover. Taking freebies from GM creates that ethical problem, big time.
Here's one more reason why we should protect our independence.
Journalists regularly report on conflicts of interest in our society. Journalists report on improper relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists. Journalists report on improper relationships between physicians and pharmaceutical companies. Journalists report on improper relationships between local government officials and developers.
Journalists can not effectively carry out a unique and esssential reporting and watchdog role in society if the journalists have improper relationships with those they cover.
Feel free to share my thoughts on that list discussion if you like."
Best,
Bob Steele
Nelson Poynter Scholar for Journalism Values and Senior Faculty, Ethics
The Poynter Institute
801 Third St.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
6 comments:
alright sherls. youve made your point. as a citizen of the U.S. your are allowed to do that. i'm all for free speech. but these college students that GM is "inviting" to attend, are all over 18. which means by U.S. law they are adults. so that means unless you are their paternal father...you really dont have to a right to tell them what to do. or impose your opinion on them, or anyone else. point blank, you cant stop someone from going. lets not make this another ybj issue that gets run into the ground. because really...there is nothing you can do to stop it. the only thing you can do, is not go yourself. so dont go. and youll be able to go to sleep tonight. i guarantee no one is losing sleep over you.
I hear what you saying about ethics.
I think most of the student journalists I come into contact with value ethics highly, because they respect the craft and the fragile footing on which we stand.
But on the other hand the reality is some journo programs, some campus media outlets don't have big budgets. An offer like this would be enticing for a variety of reasons, an opportunity for a student to travel, and an opportunity to cover a "real" story.
Yeah, but that big question looms how do you balance allegiances, and not be beholden to a particular party or interest?
You're right though when you ask if long term ads or sponsorship of programming would not guarantee the positive press most companies seek.
Judging by the first comment, it appears you may be right to ponder the value of ethics today among the youngsters.
This is shaky, for sure...but sounds a lot like a travel junket, no?
I just don't like the fact that things like this are being offered to kids like candy. It's like a homeless man walking past a bag of crack on the street. Either he'll pick it up and sell it for the money, or he'll use it because that's that lead to his homelessness in the first place. One day, stuff like this is going to offend more people.
By then, it'll be too late.
P.S. There's a dumbass posting at the top your comments for this post (and is that semi-anonymously? I dunno). Ten bucks says it's a college student who won't last long in the industry.
@M-Dubb...LMAO...LMAO...LMAO...
LMAO...LMAO...
Wow. It's not even just an ethical thing, that's a test of loyalty. What if they took it and Daimler Chrysler came along and offered the same stuff and a car or something? That student "journalist" probably wouldn't get any interviews with GM anymore.
But anywho, I won't talk about a certain station that gets free concert tickets and free tickets to an amusement park, but my station doesn't allow us to get ANYTHING for free.
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