Comments on: Ethics, compassion and common sense http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/ Notes from the classroom and observations about today's practice of journalism online Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:51:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Kevin http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7821 Kevin Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:43:42 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7821 "Covering tragedy is very difficult. You are literally walking into the middle of someone’s personal disaster and you have to remember your humanity first and foremost. The pictures will come. Be a person of compassion and the stories will come. Another <a href="http://alittlenews.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/tragedy-in-the-south/" rel="nofollow">human telling human stories</a>. “Covering tragedy is very difficult. You are literally walking into the middle of someone’s personal disaster and you have to remember your humanity first and foremost. The pictures will come. Be a person of compassion and the stories will come.

Another human telling human stories.

]]> By: cyndy green http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7751 cyndy green Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:41:53 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7751 And what do you do when you are forced to step outside of your job as a neutral observer? Was at an accident once and I knew CPR and nearly had to put the camera down, but fate in the form of an emergency room doctor stepped in and took over. Where do we draw the line? For a human life I would drop the camera. I think we have to act compassionately without making our involvement the story - that is showboating. And what do you do when you are forced to step outside of your job as a neutral observer? Was at an accident once and I knew CPR and nearly had to put the camera down, but fate in the form of an emergency room doctor stepped in and took over. Where do we draw the line? For a human life I would drop the camera. I think we have to act compassionately without making our involvement the story - that is showboating.

]]> By: Jannet http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7711 Jannet Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:07:55 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7711 We are humans telling real-life human stories. I recently did a video looking at surviors from the Feb. 2, 2007 tornados. I was crying while a widow recounted the story of loosing her husband and young son. When she was done I hugged her. Maybe I should not have hugged her, but I did. I don't think I acted improperly. Here is the link to the video. What would have you done? My tears were as real as hers. Please tell me what you think. (She is the last person in my video interviewed.) Jannet http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid294382118/bctid1402023045 We are humans telling real-life human stories. I recently did a video looking at surviors from the Feb. 2, 2007 tornados. I was crying while a widow recounted the story of loosing her husband and young son. When she was done I hugged her. Maybe I should not have hugged her, but I did. I don’t think I acted improperly. Here is the link to the video. What would have you done? My tears were as real as hers. Please tell me what you think. (She is the last person in my video interviewed.)
Jannet
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid294382118/bctid1402023045

]]> By: Stephen Hermann http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7608 Stephen Hermann Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:33:50 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7608 Jeesh! Help them fer godsakes. What is it going to take for journalists to understand we are all part of the community/village. The fact I feel it is necessary to ask my students if they should intercede in a dangerous situation in order to try to save lives is STUPID. Of course, we should. Wouldn't we want the same? Stephen Hermann Jeesh!
Help them fer godsakes. What is it going to take for journalists to understand we are all part of the community/village.
The fact I feel it is necessary to ask my students if they should intercede in a dangerous situation in order to try to save lives is STUPID. Of course, we should. Wouldn’t we want the same?
Stephen Hermann

]]> By: Mindy http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7440 Mindy Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:09:47 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7440 @Nico: Touché! One of my favorite journalism movies is "Under Fire" (1983). Not because it's pretty (it isn't). Not because it makes journalists look noble (it doesn't). Because it shows the risks and challenges of being human, of caring, while being a journalist. Right or wrong. @Nico: Touché! One of my favorite journalism movies is “Under Fire” (1983). Not because it’s pretty (it isn’t). Not because it makes journalists look noble (it doesn’t). Because it shows the risks and challenges of being human, of caring, while being a journalist. Right or wrong.

]]> By: nico. http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7435 nico. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:26:59 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7435 So, journalists don't interfere with reality? They not only interfere with it, they decide what's reality. And that, in turn, impacts agents of the events. When we had the riots in France back in '05, those setting cars on fire did so explicitly to be on TV. Don't warlords have an incentive to be extra cruel if they know the media's going to cover it more, the more gruesome it gets? Interfering with reality is what journalism is all about. And a story about a heroine addict saved by a middle-class journalist (ie, someone your audience identifies with) is certainly more inspiring, and more valuable for readers/advertisers, than an nth account of the desperating youth. Objectivity and 'reporting the truth' just isn't possible - journalists are never neutral. Telling stories is what they should do. So, journalists don’t interfere with reality?

They not only interfere with it, they decide what’s reality. And that, in turn, impacts agents of the events. When we had the riots in France back in ‘05, those setting cars on fire did so explicitly to be on TV.

Don’t warlords have an incentive to be extra cruel if they know the media’s going to cover it more, the more gruesome it gets?

Interfering with reality is what journalism is all about. And a story about a heroine addict saved by a middle-class journalist (ie, someone your audience identifies with) is certainly more inspiring, and more valuable for readers/advertisers, than an nth account of the desperating youth.

Objectivity and ‘reporting the truth’ just isn’t possible - journalists are never neutral. Telling stories is what they should do.

]]> By: Patrick Yen http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7431 Patrick Yen Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:02:04 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7431 "Remember, Journalists are supposed to be vultures, not humanitarians.." From "<a href="http://www.gonzopj.net/1.pps" rel="nofollow">Tips for Corporate American Journalists (Powerpoint)</a>" circa October 2006. “Remember,
Journalists are supposed to be vultures,
not humanitarians..”

From “Tips for Corporate American Journalists (Powerpoint)”
circa October 2006.

]]> By: Wenalway http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7429 Wenalway Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:39:18 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7429 This stuff is dumb. Just give the people a ride. Unless they confess to a crime or something, how will that affect the impartiality of the article? Too often, journalists are choking on gnats and swallowing elephants. This stuff is dumb. Just give the people a ride. Unless they confess to a crime or something, how will that affect the impartiality of the article?

Too often, journalists are choking on gnats and swallowing elephants.

]]> By: Charlie http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7428 Charlie Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:58:48 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7428 The funny thing is, reading the article about Hull again, I see where the editor is coming from. I just don't think I would've called him to ask permission in the first place, long as I'd ensure I could file what I needed to file. The funny thing is, reading the article about Hull again, I see where the editor is coming from. I just don’t think I would’ve called him to ask permission in the first place, long as I’d ensure I could file what I needed to file.

]]> By: Charlie http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7427 Charlie Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:54:10 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/ethics-compassion-and-common-sense/#comment-7427 Hit it on the head, John. I mean, 'We're not the Red Cross' - seriously, is this our role? Because it sounds more like an excuse. Just to take this down the slippery slope - would a war journalist not help a wounded person? 'Sorry, buddy, can't help put pressure on that hemorrhage. Got to stay neutral. This is all going in my story.' This isn't to say you should always help. There's no way you can always help. But we can't use our role as an excuse. Hit it on the head, John.

I mean, ‘We’re not the Red Cross’ - seriously, is this our role? Because it sounds more like an excuse.

Just to take this down the slippery slope - would a war journalist not help a wounded person? ‘Sorry, buddy, can’t help put pressure on that hemorrhage. Got to stay neutral. This is all going in my story.’

This isn’t to say you should always help. There’s no way you can always help. But we can’t use our role as an excuse.

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