Tuesday, March 23, 2004
The Dog Didn't Bark: Diversity in the Newsroom
It's amazing to me how the self-consciously ethical journalism profession can launch into an autoflagellating fit over a couple of swiped paragraphs but yet, in story after story, remain oblivious to the ethical problems of a noncommissioned officer abandoning his men in combat.
You can read story after story after story, and the issue just doesn't come up at all.
You could drive a tank through the holes in the stories.
Sure, some outlets report that online bloggers are calling SSG Mejia a 'coward.' But they make no attempt to evaluate the truth of that charge, nor explore SSG Mejia's conduct in the light of the law and in the light of the ethical standards of his profession and rank.
Staff Sergeant Mejia was a squad leader. A leader of between four and ten men. He is a noncommissioned officer, and as an NCO, has certain professional and moral obligations.
Other than the Chicago Tribune, not a single major media outlet examines his obligations and responsibilities as an NCO.
It's as if the journalism community has no idea that these responsibilities even exist.
Recruiting editors--most of you claim to be commited to diversity in the newsroom.
How many veterans do you have on your staff?
Splash, out
Jason
You can read story after story after story, and the issue just doesn't come up at all.
You could drive a tank through the holes in the stories.
Sure, some outlets report that online bloggers are calling SSG Mejia a 'coward.' But they make no attempt to evaluate the truth of that charge, nor explore SSG Mejia's conduct in the light of the law and in the light of the ethical standards of his profession and rank.
Staff Sergeant Mejia was a squad leader. A leader of between four and ten men. He is a noncommissioned officer, and as an NCO, has certain professional and moral obligations.
Other than the Chicago Tribune, not a single major media outlet examines his obligations and responsibilities as an NCO.
It's as if the journalism community has no idea that these responsibilities even exist.
Recruiting editors--most of you claim to be commited to diversity in the newsroom.
How many veterans do you have on your staff?
Splash, out
Jason
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