ShopRite Says No Happy Birthday For Hitler.

THE BAKERY AT SHOPRITE refused to write "Happy Birthday Adolf Hitler" on a birthday cake for Adolf Hitler Campbell, who turned 3 on Sunday."We believe the request ... to inscribe a birthday wish to Adolf Hitler is inappropriate," a ShopRite spokeswoman told the Easton Express-Times.I'm not sure there is a journalism ethics question here. But doesn't the Campbell family (who also have a daughter named JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell) have the right to choose whatever names they want for their children? Did ShopRite violate their First Amendment...

Should You Hurl Your Shoes at the President?

A JOURNALIST attending a press conference in Iraq threw his shoes at US President George Bush. Throwing footwear, apparently, is a horrible insult in that culture.I believe Principle of Journalism #11 is: Journalists should not throw shoes at people during press even...

Bikini Journalism? For real?

A BROADCAST JOURNALIST in Chicago was fired after being videotaped at the home of a man in the news. And the reporter was in a bikini in the video.Trying to build a relationship that might lead to an on camera interview, reporter Amy Jacobson visited the home of Craig Stebic, whose wife had gone missing. Rumors floated that Stebic was responsible for making his wife disappear.Jacobson hung out with Stebic and his children at the family pool. Jacobson...

Are You Influenced By What You See?

PLEASE PASS ALONG your thoughts regarding Siobahn's presentation this morning, specifically the notion of imagery in media, including journalism, perpetuating stereotypes.Can journalism and the media shape who you are?And with that in mind, now do you think the media share some responsibility for the death of the Wal-Mart worker on Long Isla...

Did The Media Kill The Wal-Mart Worker?

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPERS in Long Island, NY crushed a man to death at Wal-Mart as they rushed the store for sale items.A New York Times columnist now says that the media is partially responsible for the man's death:"The willingness of people to walk over another human being to get at the right price tag raises the question of how they got that way in the first place," writes David Carr. "But in the search for the usual suspects and parceling of blame,...

"We're Capturing the First Drafts of History."

WHAT DID YOU THINK of our guest, Jim MacMillan?Here are a few things that stood out for me:- "Wherever physical casualties occur, there will be psychological injuries," Jim said, quoting from one of his former professors.- Don't stand under power lines at fires and crash sites.- Jim stressed that there is a possibility of retraumatizing the audience by replaying video and sound, or by showing images, or through words in print. For instance, this...

Did the Media Fall For a PR Stunt?

JON STEPHENSON told us that the images transmitted around the world of the toppling of the Saddam Hussein statue were really a giant public relations stunt.The event conveniently took place near the hotels where the media were staying. There were loads of American military around (look carefully at the image below ... there are numerous tanks) to ensure the safety of the media so they could cover the event.What should the media do in this situation?...

How Far Will You Go To Get A Story, Part II?

IN CASE YOU ZONED when Barry Levine mentioned the lengths his reporters went to track down John Edwards, this clip explains the event.Did the reporters go too far in hounding Edwards through the Beverly Hills Hotel, chasing him into a bathroom? Or is that good dogged journali...

Should Journalists Vote For Baseball Awards?

PHILLIES FIRST BASEMAN Ryan Howard finished second in the voting for National League Most Valuable Player. The people who voted? Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.Inquirer sports columnist Phil Sheridan declined to vote because, as he wrote, "It is ethically indefensible for the journalists who cover baseball to vote for official awards that have an impact on players' financial rewards."Should the people covering the teams decide...

How Far Will You Go To Get A Story?

THINK YOU'RE TOO good for tabloid news? Do you think that the gossip rags exploit our thespians and musicians, invading their privacy for the sole purpose of titillating the Wal-Mart loving masses?Well, what if they do? In recent years, the National Enquirer has sold more than a million copies per week AND it has broken major stories that were then picked up by the mainstream press.For instance, the Enquirer broke the story of former presidential...

Is Paris Hilton Newsworthy?

WHAT DID YOU THINK of the MSNBC clip that Byron showed you this morning? Was the anchor wrong in refusing to deliver Paris Hilton news? Isn't it the job of the journalist to provide information that people want?Or was she correct in refusing? Do you think that journalists should ignore (or downplay) celebrity news (and gossip), especially when there are arguably larger news stories happening?What would you have done?(By the way, Barry Levine, the executive editor of the National Enquirer, will speak during our next session, on 11/1...

Can You Hear Me Now?

PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA visited the White House this week and met with current president George W. Bush.Afterward, Obama flew back to Chicago, with a pack of media folks on the plane. At one point, Obama was on a cell phone and reporters could hear him talking."I am not going to be spending too much time in Washington over the next several weeks," said Obama according to the Washington Post, adding that he did not want to "go lurching so far...

Is This Offensive?

THE CHICAGO READER, an alternative weekly, ran the above image as their cover of the post-election issue. And as soon as it hit the streets, people freaked out."Callers told me we're assuming he'll screw up because he's black," Reader editor Alison True wrote.Is the image going too far? And what about the image below, which would have been their cover if John McCain won the election?...

"The Next President" or "The First Black President?"

RACE HAS REMAINED an underlying issue during the presidential campaign that concluded tonight with the election of Barack Obama.But does it diminish the achievements of president-elect Obama to label him as the "First Black President?" On one hand, it is most certainly an historic event. On the other hand, he wasn't elected because he is African-American. He was elected because the majority of Americans believe in him and his mission.Should the media...

From World Series to Two Years in Jail?

THIS IS NOT ANOTHER BASEBALL POST. This is a First Amendment situation.Today, the Supreme Court will begin hearing a case regarding the FCC and their rules on "fleeting expletives."Essentially, the case revolves around U2 singer (and new New York Times columnist) Bono. During the 2002 Golden Globes Award ceremony, which was broadcast live, he said, "This is really, really, fucking brilliant. Really, really great."The FCC warned NBC, who broadcast...

Chase Utley: Role Model or Potty Mouth?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, the media are the standard bearers of society when it comes to language. What is said regularly in print, online and over the airwaves becomes commonplace in public.So what do you think about our World Series champion second baseman who dropped an f-bomb on live television (and live radio)?Should someone be punished for this and if so, who?(I promise this will be the last Phillies related post for a whi...

I Was There The Day We Were Kings.

AN ESTIMATED TWO million people crowded Market and South Broad Streets to watch the 2008 World Series champion Phillies roll down to the the stadiums where they were feted like kings.Whether you are a sports fan or not, it was an historic day.Where were you? And do you think this will change the attitude of Philadelphia...

Laconic, Lasagna-Eating Fat Cat Makes Readers Feel Good.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN. And they want their Garfield.After the Rocky Mountain News quietly eliminated the cartoon cat from their funny pages, readers started complaining. Here is part of the paper's announcement of Garfield's return:More than 2,000 readers wrote, e-mailed and called our comics hot line after the strip was dropped. Many Garfield fans told us that in these troubled times, they counted on the comic relief of their longtime favorite...

Politics on a Bag? No Thanks, Newspapers Say.

THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION is backing John McCain in next week's presidential election, and they are actively campaigning against Barack Obama.So the NRA, through their political action committee, is trying to send their message to the public. One of the ways they are trying to do that is by purchasing ad space on the plastic bags that newspapers are delivered in.But newspapers have been turning down the advertisements, mostly on the basis of...

Vertigo? Or Angel of Harlem?

DO YOU CARE about what Bono thinks?Well, the New York Times announced that the U2 lead singer and activist will write opinion pieces for the paper starting in 2009.Though...

"It's Never Too Early To Start Achieving Your Dream."

WHAT DID YOU THINK of our guest, Marc Zumoff?Here are a few things he said that stood out for me:• Get internships.• Network, form relationships and kiss ass.• Make your life revolve around your passions.• Being a good writer will make you stand out, even in broadcasting.What stood out for you?(by the way, if you are interested in learning about one of the voices of the Phillies, Larry Andersen, read this sto...

Should The Paper Pick a President?

THIS IS THE SEASON FOR political endorsements. Newspapers across the country are making their cases for either John McCain or Barack Obama for president.The Los Angeles Times wrote:We need a leader who demonstrates thoughtful calm and grace under pressure, one not prone to volatile gesture or capricious pronouncement. We need a leader well-grounded in the intellectual and legal foundations of American freedom. Yet we ask that the same person also...

It Ain't Easy Being Funny.

IF YOU ENJOY THE DAILY SHOW, think about what makes it so enjoyable. Someone actually digs through copious amounts of news and raw data, digests it and processes it.That man, apparently, is Adam Chodikoff, a Daily Show producer. Here is his news diet, as reported by Women's Wear Daily:Chodikoff reads seven newspapers a day in print, sits through hours of hearings on C-Span on a Saturday and watches Sen. John McCain grilling on Rachael Ray’s talk...

Do You Run the Potentially Defamatory Ad?

TO GAIN INTEREST IN THEIR upcoming "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" event, David Horowitz and his Freedom Center tried to place ads in college newspapers across the country.Many college newspapers declined to run the ad. According to the University of California, Santa Barbara student newspaper, the advertisement - “Stop the Jihad On College Campuses” - claims the Muslim Student Association recruits and supports speakers who “are calling for the execution...

Great Time To Be a Phillies Fan. But Can You Be An Objective Reporter At The Same Time?

CLEARLY, ON THE day after the Phillies topped the Dodgers 3-2 in the National League Championship Series, it is an excellent time to be a Phillies fan.Tyler Kepner, a New York Times sports reporter, wrote about his love for the Phillies in the Times a few days ago: If you could relive the happiest moment of your childhood, what would it be? I’m lucky, I suppose, because I never have to think twice.It was Oct. 8, 1983, a quarter of a century ago Wednesday....

Warning! Snark Factor Off the Charts: Gawker on Journalism

IF YOU ARE AN ASPIRING journalist, and you want a 60 second synopsis of the state of journalism, click here for Gawker.com's analysis.Here is a sample:The outlook is grim. If you're just getting into journalism, the job market is already flooded with people with far more experience than you who've been laid off, and are competing for the same jobs. If you're employed, moving up is treacherous—you never know when the new job you just took could disappear...

Note to Journalists: You suck.

KATIE COURIC ASKED Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin which newspapers and magazines she reads. Palin responded, "I've read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media."Couric followed, "What, specifically?"And Palin answered, "Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years.""Can you name a few?" Couric countered."I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news, too,"...

Is It Wrong To Take The Cash?

THE MEDIA IS SUPPOSED to remain objective, right? Can the New York Times be taken seriously when their daily e-mail newsletters contain partisan advertisements, like the one above? Don't they look like they are supporting Barack Obama for president?Political campaigns bring a lot of money to the media. The John McCain and Obama campaigns have already dropped $27 million for broadcast advertising in Pennsylvania this season, and we are really only...

Should You Publish Military Secrets if They Seem Questionable?

IN CLASS TODAY, WE TALKED about a New York Times story that revealed a military strategy to place "bait" in certain areas where potential insurgents would find them.After placing the bait, American snipers observed the area around it, a military official told the newspaper. “If someone found the item, picked it up and attempted to leave with the item,” he said, “we would engage the individual, as I saw this as a sign that they would use the item...

Satire and the Race for the Oval Office.

WHILE JOURNALISTS hold on to the old ideal of objectivity, entertainment television runs with the political satire (like the SNL clip above). Is it fair for folks like Tina Fey to mock Sarah Palin? Should David Letterman be punished for spending more than half of a recent show making fun of John McCain?By the way, the real Katie Couric interview with Sarah Palin is bel...

Is It Good Journalism Or Ugly Racism?

FOX29 INVESTIGATED a tip that an aide to city councilman Wilson Goode was abusing her position. The tipster said that the aide regularly arrived hours late to work, and frequently left early.When the FOX29 reporter asked the aide - who earns $90,000 per year - about the allegations, the aide said that the reporter was a racist. The aide actually held up signs during council session accusing the Fox reporter of being in the KKK.Watch the video by...

Does This Offend You?

THIS COVER was recently honored as one of the best mag covers of the year by the American Society of Magazine Editors.Since the majority of you weren't offended by the "Douchebag" headline, I doubt you guys would be bothered by a line pointing to the former New York governor's crotch with BRAIN in bold caps. Anyone? Is this good journalism?(Click here to see this year's top cover finalist...

Are You Offended by "Douchebag?"

THE BALTIMORE SUN'S free daily paper featured a cover story about "Douchebags," with 56 ways to tell if you are one. Apparently, some people were upset to see the word displayed so large and prominent on the page, which was fronted in newspaper boxes all around Baltimore.Is there anything wrong with running the word on the cover in 48 point, bold type like th...

Can Photographs Have Influence?

FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER Jill Greenberg was hired to shoot images of John McCain for the Atlantic Monthly magazine.Greenberg, a hard-core Democrat, decided to create images of McCain that portrayed him as old and sinister. She lit him with a harsh light, and shot the image from low, creating deep shadows and intensity.Is that wrong? Should she have made him look good, maybe retouched his red eyes? Or is it her job of the photojournalist to present...

That's Crazy ... But Is It News?

A 22-YEAR OLD WOMAN was driving the wrong way down interstate 476 in Delaware County and she crashed into oncoming traffic. A 63-year old woman was killed. The Philadelphia Inquirer's story included these details:O'Neill (the 22-year old driver) is the sister of Sean Owen O'Neill Jr., who was released from juvenile detention in June after being held in the August 2006 shooting death of his friend. O'Neill Jr. hosted a party without adult supervision...

In Lieu of Newspapers, Use Craigslist?

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE censored a paid obit that ran in the paper. The family of Ken Swanborn submitted an obit with the final line, "In lieu of flowers, please vote Democratic."The paper refused to run that line. A woman on the paper's paid-death-notice desk told the Chicago Reader, "If it's considered discriminatory or offensive, they take the line out."Do they have the right to do th...

Media and The Law: What's Right?

DURING THE RECENT political conventions, several reporters were arrested. Watch the video above. Was there justification for the arrest in this case?An Associated Press photographer from Philadelphia was arrested while covering an anti-war protest in Minnesota. Several others were picked up there as well (see the video below) and then released later in the day without charges being filed.Before you react, process the information. A good journalist will recognize multiple sides of the story. Did the police feel threatened? Were they abusing their...

Can Journalism Harness Social Media For Good?

NEARLY ALL OF THE students who have taken the survey I requested you take said that they use facebook.It is an amazing tool, really, far more than just a way to pass the time. Why? Because you actually learn about your friends, their passions, their interests and what they're doing online.And now with Twitter, people have the ability to update their friends of their activities every second of the day.The New York Times Sunday Magazine explores the...

GOP vs. The Media Elite

ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN talking points that is being repeated over and over again at the Republican National Convention is that the media are a bunch of elitists.I love it. Don't they read the papers? Media job layoffs are announced almost daily. Elitists? The average starting salary for a 2008 grad who actually finds work is $32,000. If you can find a job, that is.Is the media showing their elitism by pointing out that there are only 36 African American...

Gossip Mongering or Good Journalism?

RUMORS HAVE FLOATED for months that GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin is not the mother of the 4-month old she claims as her own. Some have speculated that Palin's 17-year old daughter (above, right) is the real mother.What do you do with that rumor? Do you investigate it as a journalist?The folks up in Alaska didn't touch it:“I heard that rumor a long time ago,” said Pat Forgey, political reporter for the Juneau Empire, a few hours after Palin’s statement...

Blatant Self-Promotion: Your Teacher is a Journalist.

PEOPLE SAY JOURNALISM is dying. Newspapers are going away, TV news is a joke and magazines are watching advertising dollars disappear.And yet here you all are. Studying journalism. Your parents must be so excited.Well, I, for one, don't believe the industry is dying. It's simply changing. And that makes this the most exciting time in history to be an aspiring journalist. For real.If you want to read more, click here to read my story about "Why I...

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