4/10/2009

in

A columnist at a major news network downloads a pirated movie for review. A DJ in Canada breaks an interview contract with the guest he's interviewing. What a rough week it's been for journalism and journalists in particular.

John Winn

All Roger Friedman wanted to do was get a copy of *X-Men Origins: Wolverine* for review. An article was due, and Friedman was understandably under pressure to produce one. But rather than ask his parent company, Fox, to produce a promo copy, he streamed an illegal copy online. Then he wrote about the experience--gleefully one might add--to the chagrin of his betters at News Corp. Twenty-four hours later, his personal effects were lying outside his cubicle.  
  
Such a clear cut violation of journalistic ethics--to say nothing of his contract with News Corp.--is certainly appalling, not the least of which for its galling lack of discretion. It is exactly the sort of thing that is giving journalists and reporters black marks these days. Friedman is an isolated case, of course. But the shocking obviousness of his actions and his status as a heavy-hitter with News Corp. may make many think otherwise.  
  
To a certain extent, Jian Ghomeshi made a snafu that was just as embarrassing as Friedman's--though not as serious. Instead of honoring his interview contract with Billy Bob Thornton, he used the actor-singer's career as a segue into his interview, against the wishes of both the actor and the actor's agent. While Billy Bob certainly could have been more diplomatic than he was in the *Q* studio Wednesday, it is still bad form. But in Ghomeshi's defense, he probably felt like he had no choice--after all, the main reason the *Primary Colors* star was in his studio to promote the Boxmasters to begin with is because of his celebrity. That said, the "he said, he said" nature of the dispute makes it difficult to assign blame to one person--both Ghomeshi and Thornton are at fault here, but only by degrees. Yet the Friedman and Ghomeshi cases illustrate the complexity of journalistic ethics--and the importance for educating prospective journalists about them.  
  
In an age when print is declining and even the slickest huckster can pass him or herself off as an expert under the guise of covering the news, it is important to remember what makes a journalist a journalist--and what makes him an also-ran. Friedman betrayed his true colors through his ill-thought out actions. Ghomeshi, despite having embarrassed himself, held onto the spirit of his credentials--and therein lay the difference.