2008 Woodie Awards
Keeping coverage presentable
Dirty laundry should not be aired to public if it doesn't affect their job
By: Maria Spicketts
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Voices
Did the Times violate McCain's privacy? No - they are certainly allowed to investigate this situation; externally, appearances leave much to be desired. But they certainly could have done better. This story was based almost entirely on anonymous sources. Tabloid or yellow journalism? Not quite - after all, it's the New York Times.
I don't believe the Times was out to ruin McCain's campaign. After all, it gave him a much-discussed endorsement before Super Tuesday.
But McCain's 'disappointment' with the Times is understandable - if the story is false, this is absolutely tabloid journalism, not to mention bad journalism.
The Times should not have published until it had concrete, non-circumstantial evidence of an affair and shady political behavior on McCain's part. If he did have an affair, his family did not deserve to have their dirty laundry aired like that, especially without complete faith in the story and on-the-record sources of dishonest behavior.
When you cast your ballot in November, it does not matter whom the candidate is sleeping with - only where he or she stands.
As a journalist, however, I'm not going to immediately discount a candidate. I have a strong faith in freedom of the press, the press' ethical codes, and oh yeah, the New York Times! They paper's not exactly hurting for stories, or respect.
The Times certainly isn't going to expend its considerable credibility for the implication of a presidential candidate's affair.
Even if it does go against everything he stands for.
I don't believe the Times was out to ruin McCain's campaign. After all, it gave him a much-discussed endorsement before Super Tuesday.
But McCain's 'disappointment' with the Times is understandable - if the story is false, this is absolutely tabloid journalism, not to mention bad journalism.
The Times should not have published until it had concrete, non-circumstantial evidence of an affair and shady political behavior on McCain's part. If he did have an affair, his family did not deserve to have their dirty laundry aired like that, especially without complete faith in the story and on-the-record sources of dishonest behavior.
When you cast your ballot in November, it does not matter whom the candidate is sleeping with - only where he or she stands.
As a journalist, however, I'm not going to immediately discount a candidate. I have a strong faith in freedom of the press, the press' ethical codes, and oh yeah, the New York Times! They paper's not exactly hurting for stories, or respect.
The Times certainly isn't going to expend its considerable credibility for the implication of a presidential candidate's affair.
Even if it does go against everything he stands for.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Nick Smith
posted 2/25/08 @ 8:04 PM EST
Uh, did you not even read that story throughly?
Granted, they mention the allegations of an affair or whatnot a few times, but the main topic of that story is being completely overlooked by virtually everyone, and it's really quite pathetic. (Continued…)
Post a Comment