This week's The Stranger speculates on the likely demise of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
If a failing newspaper like the P-I dies, and it dies in a city that experts agree can't support two daily newspapers anyway, and it also happens to die at the precise moment when that city is experiencing a proliferation of new media, well, who cares?I think more people would care more if the P-I was less of a predictable liberal propaganda organ and did more hard reporting that exposed the failings of our local governments. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at March 09, 2006 10:25 AM | Email This
Let's Grade them:
Code of Ethics
Ethics > SPJ Code of Ethics
Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. 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. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.F
Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.D
Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.C
Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.D
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.F
Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.F
Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.C
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.D
Never plagiarize.B
Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.D
Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.F
Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.F
Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.D
Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.F
Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.C
Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.F
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.F
Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.C
Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
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.D
Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.C
Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.C
Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.D
Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.C
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.
Journalists should:
Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.D
Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.F
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.I
Disclose unavoidable conflicts.C
Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.F F F F
Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.I
Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.I
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
Journalists should:
Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.F
Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.F
Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.F
Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.F
Any questions on why the PI is going in the tank.
I will miss Prince Valiant.
It makes it seem that everything is hunky-dory with our governments. No one is creating a controversy anymore, nor are they exposing corruption of our local elected officials.
It used to be the DC politicians who were corrupt and everyone knew it. What people don't know is that their corruption has gone to new levels. Locally, our local politicians have started selling their souls for higher and higher rewards than ever before.
Just ask.
Posted by: swatter on March 9, 2006 10:57 AMI for one will not miss the P-I when it finally dies. If the paper was published in Oregon it already would've elected to have assisted suicide.
Posted by: Tracy on March 9, 2006 11:00 AMThe P-I Tombstone will read:
"Death by lack of ETHICS.
However, with our last breath, we choose to blame George Bush!"
Watch out of desperation as they launch a few glancing blows at Sims and the other KLOWNS. I will never, ever subscribe to the Times or P-I again.....no matter what crumbs they throw me.
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 9, 2006 11:11 AMI wonder how many are like me, subcribers in name only to keep their numbers up.
Posted by: JCM on March 9, 2006 11:15 AMThe reason that I read SP instead of the PI is simple. Stefan is willing to actually do some research and find problems that need addressing, then writes about it. the PI doesn't.
Posted by: Jason Woodruff on March 9, 2006 11:48 AMBasically, there is no difference, except for the comics and those I purchase over the Internet.
The lock-step of the political party and the gross amount of Seattle area voters, of which I am one, with both newspapers, do not want two views, or even the truth.
And, if both papers fold, I can always go to the big "D" blogs for the untruth or warped views I get from both papers. And, if I want to find the truth, that too is really out there, they just do not want to hear it.
Both write most articles in such a way, that a positive employment situation is a result of what the Democrats have done and a failure of the Republicans.
Get an extra buck in taxes, save none and create a new spending unit, that will demand even more.
Forty some years of living here, because my sinus problems are less here than there, has proven one thing.
Pay teachers more, they will create stupider students. Pay them even more and they will do even less. That is a given in Washington State.
Get a buck, spend two bucks and no worry, mates... it is their fault and not ours.
The tunnel will be exactly the same as Boston's. It will cost Billions and Billions more and Sims and Christine will be Saints... Long live our Saints, their taxes for the sports places that are not here, but are still being paid for, are nothing... Do not even think of that truth, or you will not sleep well for decades to come.
They will cry for more and Seattle will always vote for it and the rest of the State can go to hell in a waste basket.
It is time to split King County and make Seattle the Capital of the State of Seattle. And, then let the people outside that area, in the real State of Washington, create some sort of balance between what is really needed and what the big "D" Seattle area forces through with no regard for the rest.
In the end, the fate of both papers, should rest in the middle of the road and not at the extreme left, where both of these are, or to the right.
Bye, bye... to both of them, sometime soon. You are being replaced with the Internet by thinking, even minded people, who wishes once in while to read about both sides and make up their own minds. Impossible with your "always Leftist Views" which, in the end, will justify your demise.
Posted by: Sam on March 9, 2006 01:48 PMThat is EXACTLY why the give away the rag. The main source of revenue is ADVERTISERS. Rates are based on READERSHIP. They also have a base from ON-LINE hits. The 50 cents/paper isn't the issue. The deathnail will be driven in when you & others tell them NO MORE FREEBIES and STOP VISITING THEIR WEBSITE!!! Some of you may think you are hurting them....but are actually helping them. Stop!!!!!
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 9, 2006 02:12 PMHe is a hatchetman hate-monger for the extremist left, and generally appears to have no concept of business or economics, and commonly portrays anyone that isn't a screaming socialist to be a heartless bastard. He generates about two or three cartoon per year that aren't little more than hate-laden propagandist diatribes.
Posted by: H Moul on March 9, 2006 02:34 PMBlame "talk show radios."
Blame people who won't put up with reading propaganda and have learned to think critically about their news.
Well done, everybody!
Posted by: ERNurse on March 9, 2006 04:59 PMReporterward--
The "institution" called the P-I is worth saving only if the current crop of reporters, editors & editorial board are "institutionalized".
How can anyone consider a piece of sh*t newspaper that for decades has knowingly and willingly ignored & trampled the Society of Professional Journalist Code of Ethics to be worth saving???
It needs to die without dignity like the worthless scum it has become.