What is journalism for

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What is journalism for?
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In an IDEAL world?
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• The central purpose of journalism is to tell the
  truth
• Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, The Elements of
  Journalism
• To give the news impartially, without fear or
  favor
• - Gay Talese, The Kingdom and the Power on
  Adolph Ochss credo for The New York Times

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In the REAL world? Remember..
The real world is always an exception.
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In this modern world of journalism
SPIN
Ideal World
Real World
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Spin doctors exist because there is no such
thing as objective truth So it is their
interpretation that is the key issue. - Paul
Richards, Be Your Own Spin Doctor
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It was to respond to them fast, even before they
were broadcast or published, when the lead of the
story was still rolling around in the reporters
mind - George Stephanopoulos on the War Room,
All Too Human
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What journalists get is
Authorized Information SPIN
UNauthorized Information

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Founding principal of The Washington Post tell
the truth as nearly as the truth can be
ascertained.
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An illustration - business journalist facing the
real world to tell the truth
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• Points FOR using unauthorized/stolen materials
• Provides hint of the real thing
• Only way to dig more wrongdoings than meet the
  eyes
• Organizations spin to benefit their own
  interest/shareholders and deceive the public

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• Contd - Points FOR using unauthorized/stolen
  materials
• Organizations tend to think journalists as Dr
  Evil
• Journalists have the license to kill - provide
  checks on political/business leaders and
  individuals
• Work harder to find and tell the truth

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Unauthorized Information
UN-Spin
Authorized Information
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The case AGAINST journalists using unauthorized
or stolen materials/information
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Bad journalism can leave people dangerously
uninformed Too much of what has been offered
as news in recent years has been untrustworthy,
irresponsible, misleading or incomplete -
Leonard Downie Jr. and Robert G. Kaiser, The News
About the News
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• Points AGAINST using unauthorized/ stolen
  materials
• Unauthorized materials often make half-baked
  stories
• The agenda of whistle-blowers
• Unjustifiable leaks of unauthorized information

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• Points AGAINST using unauthorized/ stolen
  materials
• Organizations become paranoid and rely on spin
• The presumption against organizations
• National security and sensitive information

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Authorized Information
SPIN
UNauthorized Information