To the Journalists at:
NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN (forget FOX) and local news stations.
To the Journalists at:
The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News, Washington Post, Daily News, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Arizona Republic, Denver Post, Newsday, Star Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, Oregonian, Plain Dealer, Seattle Times, Detroit Free Press, San Francisco Chronicle, The Star-Ledger, The Boston Globe, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Sacramento Bee, The Kansas City Star, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Sun, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Orlando Sentinel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Orange County Register, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, The Indianapolis Star, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The Miami Herald, Las Vegas Review-Journal, The Tampa Tribune, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Record, The Charlotte Observer, The Buffalo News, The Virginian-Pilot, The Courier-Journal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Oklahoman, The Columbus Dispatch, Omaha World-Herald, The Detroit News, The Times-Picayune, Austin American-Statesman, The Hartford Courant, The Commercial Appeal, The News & Observer, San Antonio Express-News, The Tennessean, Investor's Business Daily, Boston Herald, The Press-Enterprise, Democrat and Chronicle, The Blade, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, The Palm Beach Post, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Fresno Bee, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Birmingham News, The Des Moines Register, The Florida Times-Union, Asbury Park Press, Arizona Daily Star, The Morning Call, Daily Herald, La Opinión, Knoxville News Sentinel, Lexington Herald-Leader, Akron Beacon Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Dayton Daily News, Los Angeles Daily News, The Providence Journal, Tulsa World, Albuquerque Journal, The Post and Courier, The News Journal, Wisconsin State Journal, Press-Register, The Times of Northwest Indiana, The Post-Standard, The Roanoke Times, The News Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Telegram & Gazette, The Advocate and the Press-Telegram.
To the Journalists at:
All News Radio Stations throughout all 50 states.
Those of you who are part of the Society of Professional Journalists, I would like to remind you of you FAILURE to live up to your "Code of Ethics".
When you report on this Presidential Race 2012 REMEMBER your "Code" and then report.
In case you forgot:-
The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility.
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
1.Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
2.Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
3.Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
4.Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
5.Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
6.Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
7.Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
8.Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
9.Never plagiarize.
10.Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
11.Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
12.Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
13.Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
14.Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
15.Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
16.Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
17.Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.
1.Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
2.Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
3.Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
4.Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
5.Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
6.Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
7.Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
8.Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.
1.Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
2.Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
3.Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
4.Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
5.Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
6.Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
7.Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
1.Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
2.Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
3.Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
4.Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
5.Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
If you had been following your own "Code" this Presidental race would be very different.
(Sort of an answer to Chuck Todd)