Chapter 2: Truthtelling

1
Chapter 2 Truthtelling

• Case 6 Al Jazeera
• Case 7 Reporting on Enron
• Case 8 The Unabombers Manifesto
• Case 9 Fabrication at The Globe
• Case 10 An Enemy of the People

2
Chapter Overview Questions

• What is truth?
• Does someone engaging in violent attacks against
  a perceived evil technology deserve a hearing?
• Can deception in journalism ever really be
  justified?
• What is the press role as a social institution?
• Explain what is meant by the saying Journalism
  is history in a hurry

3
Case 6 Al Jazeera

• Facts Empirical Definition
• Values
• Principles
• Loyalties

4

• Cheney and Bush voiced opinions against Al
  Jazeeras media coverage. Other images include
  interview footage with Bin Laden and the setting
  inside the studio.
• How far can freedom of speech be taken for
  journalists?
• Is Al Jazeera a neutral news source, or does it
  slant its broadcast against the West?
• Should sensitivity be taken into account in
  journalism (ie uncut war footage, gore, etc)?

5
Case 6 Additional links

• The Only Show in Town Article containing
  interview with Al Jazeera director Mohamed Jasem
  al Ali.
• Al Jazeera's Edge New York Metro Article
  discussing media power of Al Jazeera.
• Al Jazeera Online Al Jazeeras English site
  with up to date Iraq coverage and database.

6
Case 7 Reporting on Enron

• Facts Empirical Definition
• Values
• Principles
• Loyalties

7

• To the left are the banners of a few of the many
  magazines and companies fooled by Enron
  executives.
• Why did so many security companies look the
  other way when reviewing Enron (ie auditors,
  securities analysts)?
• How could so many people be fooled into seeing
  Enron as a booming enterprise?
• Was justice done with Enron when the truth came
  out even though thousands lost their jobs?

8
Case 7 Additional links

• Enron Uncovering the Uncovered Story Scott
  Shermans article on the Enron Scandal.
• Enron Analysts We Was Duped Forbes article
  discussing Enron with some of the companies that
  analyzed them pre-downfall.
• Bad Apple or Rotten Culture? Paper presented at
  AEJMC Conference discussing Corporate Scandals of
  2001 and 2002.

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Case 8 The Unabombers Manifesto

• Facts Empirical Definition
• Values
• Principles
• Loyalties

10

• To the left are pictures of the Unabomber himself
  after his capture and arrest.
• Was the publishing of the Manifesto a dangerous
  erosion between the media and government?
• Should publications ever concede to the demands
  of a terrorist despite capture?
• Why would such a brilliant scholar turn so
  suddenly and so violently?

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Case 8 Additional links

• The Unabomber's Manifesto Original Manifesto
  content presented in sections.
• In Depth Overview of the Unabomber Case
  Biography, events leading up to Manifesto and
  court case information via Court TV.
• Interview with Ted Kaczynski Text version of an
  interview with the Unabomber (1999).

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Case 9 Fabrication at The Globe

• Facts Empirical Definition
• Values
• Principles
• Loyalties

13

• To the left are pictures and articles regarding
  former Globe employees Barnicle and Smith.
• Should writers who borrow others ideas or make
  fabrications be permitted to keep their jobs?
• How should writers who break the Rules of the
  Road be treated?
• If you were an editor that has discovered one of
  your long time writers has been errant, would you
  choose the writer over the ethics of the paper?

14
Case 9 Additional links

• Patricia Smith Resigns CNN article on the
  resignation and crimes of Patricia Smith.
• Why He Should have been Fired - And Why He Wasn't
  Article from The Boston Phoenix regarding
  crimes of Mike Barnicle and why he originally
  elluded being fired.
• Globe seeks Barnicles Resignation CNN article
  sheds light on Barnicles refusal to resign and
  The Globes further action

15
Case 10 An Enemy of the People

• Facts Empirical Definition
• Values
• Principles
• Loyalties

16

• A painting of Henrik Ibsen to the left along with
  pictures of modernized versions of his play.
• Is truth really useless without power?
• What happens to people when that truth is
  painful?
• Is An Enemy an accurate depiction of society
  when faced with a hard truth?

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Case 10 Additional links

• Text File Version of "An Enemy..." viewable
  version of Ibsens play.
• Social Significance of "An Enemy..." Emma
  Goldmans 1914 article discussing social
  significance of Ibsens play.