Posted by
Boaz on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 12:41:49 AM
By Walter Williams the first Dean of the Missouri School of Journalism;
I believe in the profession of journalism.
I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.
Is it possible for the main Stream Media outlets such as CNN, NBC, CBS, et al to say with a straight face they are living out the promise of the public trust?
I believe that clear thinking and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.
Accuracy and fairness? From the likes of CNN? Thats a joke.... right?
I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.
...to be true. That would be like Dan Rather? .... NOT!
I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.
Having nothing to do with the MSM holding back on Billy "Bubba" Clinton and his excesses.
I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by one's own pocketbook is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of another; that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading another's instructions or another's dividends.
Larry King, Mr. Flint, Mr. Maher, Franken and the rest of the AirAmerica crowd really toe the line on that one don't they.
I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that the supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.
Well I for one wouldn't mind if the PopTart crowd never got another single line of press - ever. And I am ever so sure all of that Chinese crapola being advertised is really good for us all.
I believe that the journalism which succeeds best -- and best deserves success -- fears God and honors Man; is stoutly independent, unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power, constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of privilege or the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance and, as far as law and honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal chance; is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good will and cementing world-comradeship; is a journalism of humanity, of and for today's world.
I won't even bother with the issue of honoring God, that in todays press, is not even considered, not even as a joke. Honoring Man? Nope. Men are the evil, hatemongering hordes who defile the Earth mother with all of their SUV's, Mega Barbeques, and who are continually trodding on the rights of all the various bugs, salmanders, birds, spiders, armadillos and spotted owls who were all here first. Why would they honor what they do't understand?
Regarding pride of opinion? Is that not the only thing I see in print today? "If it ain't news make it news" is all they seem to say.
As for the appeal of privilege, lets not go to the area of the US CONgress as the New American Aristocracy.
An equal chance - Does that mean an end to the constant clamor from the Far, Far Left for positive discrimination - or as they like to call it - affirmative action?
Somewhere along the road to the 21st Century, jouranlism took a hard left and fell off the road. Or perhaps they just flat out jumped off the road. Because I swear by all which is Holy, Professional Journalists today are as sleazy as most attorneys. And both of them together are nearly half as sleazy as 98.9% of CONgress.