The field of journalism is awash with various codes of conducts and standard practices to which most professionals adhere. However, some take advantage of the system for personal gain. Look at the use of confidential sources. If "off the record", a source may never be revealed. Controversies like "Jimmy's World" ( a running serial about an 8 year old boy hooked on heroine) deceived the modern press when it turned out that "Jimmy" did not exist. The writer (Janet Cooke) deceived common practice to further her own career.
The use of photos is also a contentious issue. Should editors post pictures of dead bodies? For example, there were pictures available of Princess Diana in her fatal car crash, but night editors thought against the use of these photos as they were deemed to be unacceptable and against the recognised codes of conduct within mainstream print journalism.
Sensationalism within the popular press has been deemed ,by some, as unethical behaviour. In some circles, tabloid media's supposed exaggeration of stories is in breach of journalistic values. However, it can be argued that certain 'sensationalised' pieces have not actually altered the truth, rather the writers have put an exciting spin on stories which were once drab and colourless.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Coverage of Court Stories
The Courts are always places of drama and excitement. However journalists must always be careful about how they cover their stories in regard to who they can name, the crime that's been committed etc.
Sexual offences are generally kept out of the public's knowledge as the story may infringe on the victim's right to anonymity. Rape, molestation and other deviant crimes being heard in court may be known to some journalists but until they receive confirmation that the victim wishes to give up their right to anonymity and only then can they publish the court proceedings.
An example of such behaviour is the recent incest case in the West of Ireland. The mother was never named because her identity would of course lead to the victims of her terrible crimes. However there are some cases, like that of gangland crime, which are encouraged by the public to be printed. It is a case of "name and shame" and most journalists are only too happy to oblige. Ever since the public outcry after the murder of Veronica Guerin, most gangland bosses are afraid to kill off journalists seeking to uncover the truth. In this way the field of journalism not only reports news but can sometimes keep the perpetrators of crime at bay.
Sexual offences are generally kept out of the public's knowledge as the story may infringe on the victim's right to anonymity. Rape, molestation and other deviant crimes being heard in court may be known to some journalists but until they receive confirmation that the victim wishes to give up their right to anonymity and only then can they publish the court proceedings.
An example of such behaviour is the recent incest case in the West of Ireland. The mother was never named because her identity would of course lead to the victims of her terrible crimes. However there are some cases, like that of gangland crime, which are encouraged by the public to be printed. It is a case of "name and shame" and most journalists are only too happy to oblige. Ever since the public outcry after the murder of Veronica Guerin, most gangland bosses are afraid to kill off journalists seeking to uncover the truth. In this way the field of journalism not only reports news but can sometimes keep the perpetrators of crime at bay.
Two Different Styles!
Each and every single paper has its own style! Each paper writes in a way which grabs its own selective audience. Although there are times when the styles of certain papers lands them in hot water! The two papers that I have decided to compare and contrast are The Sun and the Irish Independent.
The Irish Sun is undoubtedly the cause of much controversy within the industry of printed media in Ireland. Regardless of the page 3 girls, the Sun seem to use more colloquialisms and damning vocabulary than their broadsheet counterparts. For example, the infamous "Fritzl" case. The Indo ran a very removed but factual and formal view of the controversy. However The Sun ran stories containing words like beast and sicko. Although it is hard to hold back your disgust in the case of the Austrian child rapist, one can assume that there is no place in supposed objective print media for such subjective vocab as beast or sicko.
However one must admit that The Sun uses language like this to draw in their audience. The popular press can be regarded in some circles merely as a form of entertainment and, by jazzing up their stories and sensationalising their pieces with evocative language, they ensure a high circulation while consolidating loyal readership. The Indo, on the other hand, ensures their loyal leadership by straight talking, factual representation of important events.
The Irish Sun is undoubtedly the cause of much controversy within the industry of printed media in Ireland. Regardless of the page 3 girls, the Sun seem to use more colloquialisms and damning vocabulary than their broadsheet counterparts. For example, the infamous "Fritzl" case. The Indo ran a very removed but factual and formal view of the controversy. However The Sun ran stories containing words like beast and sicko. Although it is hard to hold back your disgust in the case of the Austrian child rapist, one can assume that there is no place in supposed objective print media for such subjective vocab as beast or sicko.
However one must admit that The Sun uses language like this to draw in their audience. The popular press can be regarded in some circles merely as a form of entertainment and, by jazzing up their stories and sensationalising their pieces with evocative language, they ensure a high circulation while consolidating loyal readership. The Indo, on the other hand, ensures their loyal leadership by straight talking, factual representation of important events.
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