Management
journalism sources (or sources that manage to journalism)
For global journalism and Argentina, recent years have left indelible landmarks on the betrayal of the fundamental value of the media: credibility. Case
famous journalists invented sources or, equally serious, distorted data and information, have forced the media to review their internal control models. This was diagnosed
journalist Danny Schechter, in his book The news in times of war. Media: information or propaganda ..
One of the important issues that have faced the world press in recent years is that of the sources. The cuts in newsrooms, the speed of the news cycle and reducing the coverage of international news hinder the ability of journalists to have the time, resources, and lists possible sources to collect necessary the news with caution.
There were and are many cases that have marked this phase.
But the fabulist Jason Blair might be paradigmatic: its reports were fraudulent and therefore forced to ask publicly apologize to her diary, just The New York Times, who had made a cult of its editorial integrity.
The chairman of the Committee on Development Initiatives of the Newspaper Publishers Association of the United States (ASNE), Frank Denton, in an article published by the American magazine editor, said:
It's easy for outsiders to pontificate , to condemn and tear to The New York Times, but if we think about ourselves and habits prevailing in the newsroom we frequent, we will be forced to recognize that trends are noticed everywhere that to get worse, could end up forming also made pernicious
One of the central issues of these facts pernicious Denton quoted is based on the improper handling of sources with which the journalist is often engage in promiscuous relationships, which do not keep the necessary distance that enables independent criteria. There
ingenuity in this respect: the source will always try to manage the journalist from his views and journalist believe that access to the information required is simpler, does not matter if the medium is half the truth. Any
journalistic style manual is revised guidelines provide a range of elemental about the link between the communicator and a fountain.
But the matter is, above all, ethical basis:
central point for journalism is to determine:
· The degree of usefulness of data obtained from the sources.
· How they hide and distort much.
· How validated are to provide information.
• And the social impact of the news they roll over in coverage. Treatment
The problem became apparent sources so pathetic from the attacks of March 11, 2004, when a terrorist group blew up trains in Madrid's Atocha station.
So the prestigious newspaper El Pais headlined its edition extraordinary "Killing ETA in Madrid."
Not that the editors of the newspaper they had independent evidence about the authorship of the attack by the armed separatist.
No. What happened is that they were influenced by the then Prime Minister, José María Aznar.
minutes before closing, a senior official called for the drafting and blamed the attack on ETA.
Later Aznar himself contacted the newspaper to ratify management information.
The original title "terrorist massacre in Madrid " mutated to "Killing ETA in Madrid."
Commitment transparency would have required attribute this information to the Government instead of taking a huge banner headline, laments today Jesus Ceberio director. This grave error - recognizes - is not entirely attributable to the source, but the lack of enforcement of minimum professional caution. No source, is privileged, requiring no additional contrasts.
What came from that time is history, just three days later, the English Socialist Party (PSOE), with the help of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and the votes of millions of English, the government evicted Party Aznar's Popular. And this
not only biased information.
also turned to political analysis that reality
undressed truth.
But here was a powerful fact, powerful, who helped uncover what he wanted to hide.
How many information daily, low impact, are tainted by the intentions of power?
How many daily reports are distorted by the same journalists who are seduced by sources and not the contrast?
is a mixture of mutual interests and needs with a single victim, the citizen.
When it comes to power, discuss politics.
The policy requires journalists to be visible and this the first for nutrition information.
Relations between the two often are unpredictable and there are no permanent loyalties.
The tendency to influence each other causes them to choose each other.
gave rise to public debate invitation of Governor of the Province Address to selected journalists to announce that the Bank of the Province of Cordoba would not be privatized.
No need explaining the significance of that news for the community. Perhaps
who has best defined the role of journalism in the field of politics is Horacio Verbitsky, cited by Professor Alfredo Torres of the Universidad de la Plata.
Verbitsky says:
"Journalism is spreading what someone does not want to know, the rest is propaganda.
" His role is to lead it is hidden, witness and, therefore, bother.
"has sources but no friends.
"What journalists can exercise, and through them society, the mere right to complain, and documented as fair as possible.
" criticize everything and everyone.
"Pour salt into the wound and pebbles in the shoe.
"Look and say the bad side of everything, that's good side is responsible for the press office of the Swiss neutrality, the philosophers of the middle and justice judges.
" If not responsible, what fault is journalism? "
In terms of" ought "is wonderful.
But in terms of what journalism is today, it appears from the truth.
Returning to the example United States, we can see how deceptive it is.
prominent journalists and mainstream media who support President Bush on the war in Iraq only by domestic interests, such as relations with the military-industrial complex.
If even there was talk of the Bush Administration was willing to "buy" journalists to prop up a better communication campaign to convince an increasingly skeptical public that war was the best that their country could do.
I have no visa to stay in the United States, so back to Argentina.
Is not there a new wave of journalists flying the flags of the government of Nestor Kirchner in the form of independent journalism?
No surprise there: the were during the Menem administration, and even more during the Alfonsin. Let me read
information that appeared in the Financial Field, a newspaper which, incidentally, is not to my liking, but in this case I think it reflects the situation clearly:
newspaper The head of the American TV channel , Roman Lejtman requested Marcelo Longabaradi expressly journalist, co-host of Crossfire cycle, to apologize to a senator with whom he had had an argument during an interview. Longobardi
not only refused, but threatened to withdraw its air cycle.
Following several complaints about officials called reporters to complain about his critical opinions, some analysts believe pressure from the government make the news cycle of political opinion in the territory of negotiation.
Given the recent closure of two cable TV signals, plus satellite and P + E, the newspaper asked if another journalist will run out of air.
Now I moved to Córdoba.
I want to narrate a story that has just one week: Two calificadísimos
officials hope the President's Office at the airport.
There were no journalists present, other cameramen.
The senior, tells another:
"Dwarf bastard in (the choice of mayor) Marcos Juárez going to leave the room. Next year I'll break your ass and thank you for being the ass and not the face. I'm going to retire from politics. "
The other replied:
" I love being underestimated. The same was said three years ago and here I am, getting to the President. You have the scent of a Pekingese. "
Actually, the dialogue is, as noted, the very low level. Not deserve to be published.
It turns out that its contents were disclosed by spokesmen for both leaders.
spokesmen of the largest, with the aim of showing how rigorea.
spokesmen of the child, because that is victimized.
is, was overt and specific interests of the sources because it was known.
The question is: when checked, does he deserve to be published? I have
to me that our decision was correct.
These insults reflect the political reality in finished living Córdoba.
We did also in the belief to demonstrate how the domestic dispute was served in a very important moment in Córdoba, as the presence of the presidents of the Mercosur summit.
I agree, however, that anyone can express an opposing viewpoint.
So I consider myself if not ended, perhaps, as "spokesmen" of a fight that we have written ourselves, is alien to the interests of Cordoba.
I must be very explicit and emphatic: no, in this case, pressure of any kind for publication or omitted.
was a decision taken in a panel of editors, the one where hundreds of decisions are taken daily, with margins of error of any human activity.
you surely have to insist so much to satisfy their doubts about the existence of pressures.
There are, but take in many cases very subtle ways.
resist depends on at least three factors:
1 .- The strength of the medium, that will not lead to live by the official advertising.
2 .- The vocation of its officers to maintain independence, something that "is proved, is the best deal for the present and future.
3 .- The capacity of environmental journalists themselves would not yield to the temptation of complacency. We just
review two paradigmatic cases in which key issues were set for this analysis:
1 .- The malicious attitude of a journalist.
2 .- The intent of sources to make their opinion prevail over reality. This applies, of course, in the case of The Country and the political fight in Cordoba.
would like now to dwell a few moments with you further look into the journalism.
Or better yet the behavior of reporters.
I think at this point, there are several issues to address.
I will not become a censor of my colleagues, certainly, by that of the straw in someone else's eye and the beam in their own. Each
in this work as your conscience tells you.
I have for me, however, that for many colleagues, journalism is no longer a vocation and became a business.
I'm not talking about the healthy ambition to live more comfortably, I hope that is natural to every human being. I'm talking about profits
spurious. Run a lot of money
spurious, you know. And it is easy money.
one just needs to reach out and provide services to obtain power factors. Dressing
journalist is a simple way for anyone, in fact, is a trader of information.
transactions with the sources are converted and, in a round-trip business quite profitable.
And if not, look at the standard of living of many journalists and warn a salary that is difficult to sustain.
There is another factor of undeniable influence: fame.
That, as everyone knows, has its price. Angel Arrese
University of Navarra put it in these terms:
sources disappear, and appear to the authors.
fame and stardom journalistic and literary gifts adorned with the rhetoric of verisimilitude, can meet the concerns which otherwise would have attracted too intimate texts, as confidential in many ways his least questioning it would appear to hurt sensitivity-not to mention the professionalism "of their authors.
And is that the journalistic stardom, in too many cases, seems to depend on exactly that: to have single sources, so personal, that allow a stand on the other, inside and outside of writing with new stories, sometimes amazing, not shared by anyone.
star as a lone wolf, as an island within the islands that make up the editorial.
And besides, a star that becomes so because it relates the lives, because it shows in the texts their experiences and feelings, their contacts with the players of today, often becoming an actor in history may be time
to rethink seriously the growing prominence of some professional information certain "star journalist" who have forgotten much of the best journalism has been throughout history anonymous, but anonymity of authors, no sources.
No doubt: the sources are going to choose this type of journalists, whose reputation will guarantee media presence, with a good deal.
The journalist, on his side, will benefit from access to sources of power.
is, a real "business round."
A virtuous circle in which the only thing missing is ethics. How
fight this evil that is hacked to our profession?
I do not think you have a recipe.
However, I dare to ask some questions: 1 .-
ourselves under the magnifying glass ourselves. Do not go out to hunt witches, but let's not go merrily ethical deviations.
2 .- We demand that our companies to the number of staff covered by the right people with past training, but also with ongoing training vocation,
3 .- Network with universities to get them not only the best students but also better people.
Something must be done to prevent journalists continue to be managed by sources and ensure that proper handling of sources. In other words, do good journalism.
Defying 