Tough Decisions

Sometimes, particularly when it comes to your occupation, it is tough to do what is right.  Oft times, it’s easier to just take the easy way out.  But, it doesn’t pay.  Take, for example, the story of Jayson Blair.  A young journalist working for the New York Times, Blair immediately began producing front-page stories.  His stories were captivating and had incredible details.  Other journalists, however, were cautious of his work and in the end, it was found out that Blair was making up details or taking them from other stories and using them in his pieces.  Needless to say, he lost his job along with the credibility of his name.  For the time, it certainly was simple for Blair to produce these “brilliant” stories with the hope that no one would figure out his secret.  Taking the unethical path was nice at the time, but ended up hurting Blair.

                Now, let’s look at some journalists who went about things the ethical and sometimes difficult way.  When Natalee Holloway disappeared in 2005, it was all over the news.  Then, Bob Costas producers informed him that they wanted him to cover it.  Costas said he did not want to because the case was already being widely covered and there was no need for him to do this story.   (Read more about Costas opinions at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/24/arts/television/24cost.html?_r=1&ref=natalee_holloway ) When his producers insisted, Costas respectfully declined to do the show.   In 1997, WMAQ-TV anchors Carol Marin and Ron Magers were informed that Jerry Springer would be joining them as another anchor.  Concerned for the prospect of broadcast journalism and realizing that this was just being done for popularity, the two decided that if Springer was to be hired, they would leave the team.  So, when their producers insisted on hiring Springer, the two soon aired their last show.  (Read more about this situation at http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/era.html) With both the case of Costas and the case of Marin and Magers, the decisions were very hard to make and threatened their careers.  Yet, both of the stories ended with supporters lauding them online.  It’s true – sometimes it’s tough to make the correct and ethical decision in your job; but, in most cases, you will in the end be rewarded.  The world wants an honest and ethical media, so making the honest and ethical choices will in the end bring support from the public.