Journalistic Integrity

I recently came across an article from Newsweek that detailed a behind the scenes look at how the American President is taking in stride the new violence that erupted in Middle East. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. One hand I had the sayings of Madeline Albright who said that being in the executive branch of the US is one of the hardest jobs but on the other I wasn’t sure how people can put a number on a human life. This doesn’t only go for the places that are outside the US where US involvement has wrought havoc, but also within the US. Decisions in instances like hurricane Katrina, Rita, the degradation of the healthcare, stem cell research and countless others decisions that have lives of people attached to it are made by the president, and yet he is barely moved by the value of human life but is spewing speeches from his pulpit to the civilians of this country explaining how he is working to save not only their lives but the lives of countless others in the world.

Albeit the fact that I am appalled by the president’s actions I was more aghast at what the reporter was detailing. According to the journalist the “grueling nature” of the president, was him sitting 30,000 feet above in the relative safety of his jet and make decisions that affect millions of lives. I believe that the journalistic integrity of the reporters is being damaged by the events in the world, in other words the incidents in this world are happening at such a pace that the journalists have focused their attention to the micro incidents rather than take into their mind the big picture. Before this advent of “Guerilla Journalism” journalism used to be a profession that was looked at with reverence, I still remember when in Pakistan the “press” sticker used to mean something. History stands witness that previously when there was a news item or a story that was worthy, journalists would ask tough questions, and not be looking for a flashy story that would catch the eye of the reader.
The Watergate scandal, the 50’s McCarthyism trials with brave souls who stood in the way of paranoia, and even in the international sectors, the release of documents that led to the conviction of USA in the Nicaraguan Contra affairs by the International Court of Justice was something to be proud of. People looked up to these journalists that were the stalwarts of the news stories. To me it doesn’t matter what side of the story you are going to present, at least which ever side you are presenting, ask questions that are worthy of your job. The unwritten code of honor and ethics that comes with a job such as journalism and yet more and more I see people abandoning the ideas that stood in the face of oppositions long ago.