Ethics -- Yours, Mine and The Media's

"Overall, the world of journalism should increase its morals, ethics, and standards so that Americans can be informed and make effective, factual decisions and the country, as a whole can become agreeable and productive together. The responsibility of informing the entire country should not be taken lightly. There are reporters out there who are interested in bettering our country and those dedicated journalists should be heard and become examples for all. To be a journalist is an honorable profession and should produce results that reflect the meeting of the needs of the uninformed public." PA

"An average citizen is not allowed to publicize or broadcast false or damaging information, and neither should the media (be allowed to do so)." SD

"No one knows exactly what the moral code is, but I think alleged love affairs and taking drugs would not follow under a moral conduct code for President of the United States." OK

"Though the press does not always show the best ethics, I don't believe it is fair to ask the media to change its unethical ways when the public seems to enjoy it the most when it is being unethical." PA

"The majority of American voters, however, are not concerned about the moralistic values of our country. Turn on your television. Go see a movie. Does it look like we as Americans are basing this country on morals or religion? AR

"I feel that in order to encourage the media to report on ethical and verifiable information, a committee of representatives from most major newspapers, TV station and radio stations should be formed. This committee would vote on the legitimacy and ethics of all stories of each individual station or newspaper. If the station or newspaper met certain criteria, as voted on by the committee, then it would earn an approval stamp to show to the public that it is unbiased and reports on ethical verifiable news. As a result, the public could distinguish between legitimate newspapers and sensational, fictional periodicals (i.e. the Enquirer). The voters could also discriminate between real news and sensational shows such as Hard Copy and A Current Affair." OR

"Let's beware of the vultures of today's society; let's set an example ourselves of being honest and treating our neighbors as we would want to be treated ourselves." SD

"As children we are taught to take things at face value and that everyone is honest, but really life is not like that at all." PA

"I don't believe that a candidate's moral standards define how good a politician he will be. . . I think that media coverage of moral issues confuses the campaign even more and overshadows the candidate's political views." MA

"Nowadays image is more important than honesty." IN

"Personal ethics should be irrelevant unless they are directly related to the candidate's capacity to serve." OH

"The media always has such cunning ways and extraordinary schemes to find out anything they can about anyone in the public eye. All they care about is . . . ratings and awards. They don't seem to mind whose life they disrupt or who they hurt . . . do you honestly think they really care if what they say or print is the God's honest truth? In my opinion their top priority is the ratings and headlines." SD

"In this ever-changing world of deceit and corruption, it would be a comfort to know that at least the media told the truth. Sometimes it is doubtful whether the media is embellishing a subject or just plain lying." IL

"It scares me to think that the person or people who I am relying on for the truth. . . may be lying to me." PA

"They (the Clintons) specifically barred photographers from bothering their cat. What did they (the media) do? They used catnip to lure the cat out of the mansion. This was about as dumb as they could get. A picture was taken and all these photographers were either lying on the ground, or kneeling to get pictures of the cat. It really made them look stupid. First of all, who cares what kind of cat they have, or who cares if they have one at all?. . . To me, it shows you can't trust these people. It also makes me wonder what schemes they can come up with on other subjects. . ." SD

"There was no limit to the mudslinging that took place in the elections. For an election where one of the main issues was values, the media and candidates certainly put theirs on hold." MA

"Show business, politics, and the press have become one inseparable business, however, and the ethics of unbiased reporting seem to have been lost with the principle of ethical government." PA

"When the media broadcasts a candidate's lifestyle, it gives people a view of that candidate's moral standards. It is important for us to know these standards because, as a person in leadership, the candidate will be an example for others to follow." SD

"Public opinions seem to become lost in a labyrinth constructed by our own government and controlled by the media. The values that each person discusses at the dinner table never reach the far and away distance on the government's work tables." MO

"In the end, it all becomes a question of morality and values. What the media feels should be released. . ." OH

"While establishing ethics in journalism and broadcasting is important, it is not easy to achieve. There should be a Media's Code of Ethics put together by reporters, broadcasters and journalists to outline the ideals that they deem necessary for proper presentation of information. Media presenters would be likely to accept their peer's standards if they are presented to them in a nonthreatening way.

Another way to monitor the quality of a news reporting organization is to establish an overseeing committee of professionals who critique. . . their peers. This committee's suggestions would carry the weight of peers and the public. NY.

"People are at the mercy of the journalists' integrity, because they have no other means of ascertaining the information that they need. This is particularly important at the time of an election . . . While the country is embroiled in a heated race for the presidency, and honesty is most important, somehow the truth and campaign rhetoric become clouded. The media does little to alleviate the difficulty of choosing the most trustworthy candidate." PA

". . . a very important point to remember is that influence by the media is not something that is required to happen, but rather something that is allowed to happen." TX