The Journalist's Dilemma

When it comes down to it, most people do not care about anyone other than their self. That is why the expansion of the media has made it so much more difficult to highlight serious issues without taking advantage of them. This article speaks to that dilemma and to the moral issue current media poses to the average journalist: do we give in to the shallow and unethical to get the viewers' attention or follow traditional journalistic ethics and possibly lose the audience?

I really agreed with this author's desire for a more in-depth article about homelessness and this man. While these pieces did come out in the days following this video going viral, the attention heaped on this man in addition to the already amateur style of the video seemed to cheapen the entire topic. Ted Williams became a novelty, rather than a prompt on the topic of homelessness. Instead of our society taking a closer look at this topic, Ted Williams became a passing point of interest and an overnight celebrity. In the end, he came off the street, but the issues that led him onto the street have not been dealt with as evidenced by his alcohol binges and violence to formerly-estranged daughter.

J.J. Green, winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award, gave a speech recently at a government conference. In speaking with him beforehand, he spoke on the importance of recognizing the difference between traditional standards and forums of journalism and media and the newer versions for upcoming journalists. He said that while these newer forms are incredibly useful and disseminate information so much quicker and to wider audiences, journalists still need to remember the basic ethics and rules of journalism so they can do the subject and their profession justice. It is in the best interests of everyone involved to treat the Ted Williams of the world in the same fashion and with the same respect. If we do not, we are not only cheapening the story, but also our profession and ourselves.