By Mike Manzoni
The School of Communication hosted an event called “Politics, sex and ethics: What decides how you report?” last Thursday night, as part of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Ethics in Journalism Week, in an effort to promote “ethical journalistic practices” in the community.
The Press Club of Long Island, a chapter of the SPJ, sponsored the event which brought together reporters and public relations professionals to discuss the ethical issues facing their field.
The six-person roundtable panel featured News 12 Long Island anchor Danielle Campbell, New York’s WNBC-TV correspondent Greg Cergol, New York Post Long Island reporter Kieran Crowley, Newsday Long Island Editor Rosemary McManus and an ethics officer from public relations firm Ruder Finn, Inc., Emmanuel Tchividjian, all of whom debated on several ethical issues, particularly the issues of politics and sex.
“I think we’re all guilty in a lot of ways of stretching the bounds of truth,” said Cergol, who has been with WNBC-TV for eight years.
Cergol brought up WNBC-TV’s coverage of New Rochelle Police Sgt. David Rodriguez, who was arrested in the alleged raping of a minor in February and whose wife, Darlene, is a morning anchor at the station.
Cergol questioned News 12 Westchester’s decision to report that Rodriguez’s wife was a local news anchor. “Why do we [journalists] add that extra caveat?” Cergol asked panelists.
“You have your codes and manuals, but ultimately it’s based on values,” said Tchividjian.
Lawyers are usually on hand in the newsroom, said all of the reporters on the panel, but are not used in regular decision-making.
McManus said lawyers give advice when asked, but are not used on an everyday basis. She said lawyers are employed only when legal questions arise about a story, but not for ethical concerns.
The “flashier,” more intense approach to news that is introduced by some stations was not welcomed by Campbell, who said she is directed to make news more sensational and appealing to younger viewers.
“We’re being told to make it faster, younger, quicker, slicker,” Campbell said. “It’s quite disturbing to be a journalist and encounter what we’re seeing.”
(Erin Furman)