Ethics in Journalism

One of the biggest issues in the field of journalism is ethics. Journalists constantly feel the need to try to assert themselves as moral, ethical, and trustworthy providers of important information. Yet despite all of the work that the majority of journalists do to gain the public's trust, it appears that readers are still skeptical. This skepticism grows every time a reporter makes a poor, unethical decision. For today's blog, I read an article from the Colorado Independent's Cara Degette that criticized Rocky Mountain News reporter Berny Morson for making an immoral decision in his coverage of a 3-year-old boys funeral.
According to Degette, Marten Kudlis, the boy whose funeral Morson covered, was killed last Thursday in Aurora, Colorado, when a car crashed into an ice cream shop where the boy was waiting in line. Kudlis' funeral took place yesterday; instead of writing a tactful piece about the funeral after it happened, Morson decided to 'tweet' the funeral. Using Twitter--an extremely informal, online communication system that Degette describes as being useful for "pals" to "text easy and quick messages...like 'Hey, just saw the coolest shoes at the mall"--Morson gave live updates on the boys funeral. The following is what was posted on the Rocky Mountain News website:

RMN_Berny: family members shovel earth into graveWednesday, Sep. 10, 11:40 a.m.RMN_Berny: rabbi calls end to ceremonyWednesday, Sep. 10, 11:28 a.m.RMN_Berny: rabbi chanting final prayer in hebrewWednesday, Sep. 10, 11:27 a.m.RMN_Berny: earth being placed on coffin.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 11:22 a.m.RMN_Berny: rabbi recites the main hebrew prayer of deathWednesday, Sep. 10, 11:20 a.m.RMN_Berny: rabbi zucker prayingWednesday, Sep. 10, 11:18 a.m.RMN_Berny: coffin lowered into groundWednesday, Sep. 10, 11:18 a.m.RMN_Berny: people gathering at gravesideWednesday, Sep. 10, 11:14 a.m.RMN_Berny: procession beginsWednesday, Sep. 10, 11:01 a.m.RMN_Berny: cars queueing up to follow hearseWednesday, Sep. 10, 10:59 a.m.RMN_Berny: pallbearers carry out coffin followed by mourners.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:48 a.m.RMN_Berny: people again are sobbing. rabbi again asks god to givemarten everlasting life.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:46 a.m.RMN_Berny: video shows marten blowing out candles on birthday cake,marten with dog. last images are of headlines.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:44 a.m.RMN_Berny: video of marten is projected on screen.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:32 a.m.RMN_Berny: rabbi says marten is close to god now.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:31 a.m.RMN_Berny: rabbi says marten loved to be tickled. calls the death anightmare. no words can sooth us, he says.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:28 a.m.RMN_Berny: family member says marten is with grandmother who diedlast year. ‘ marten we loved you,’ he says. People sobbing.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:22 a.m.RMN_Berny: family member remembers marten.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:20 a.m.RMN_Berny: rabbi says we will always remember marten and he will livein our memory.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:18 a.m.RMN_Berny: rabbi recites 23rd psalm.Wednesday, Sep. 10, 10:16 a.m.

In our text, we see that "Journalism's first obligation is to the truth;" however, we also see that "[Journalism's] first loyalty is to its citizens." Such down-played, informal coverage of a little-boys tragic death is unethical. It is this type of behavior that furthers the distrust between journalists and the public.