Working environments can often arouse mixed emotions. Some people thrive on a face-paced environment. Others need a quieter working environment in order to focus, while others are more interested in boosting their career even at the expense of those closest to them.
Decisions, deadlines and a marital crisis confront Henry Hackett, an editor for the New York Sun, in this stimulating, awarding-winning film “The Paper.” “The Paper” follows Henry Hackett on a crazy 24 hour journey where he must decide what is more important: family, his adrenaline-fueled career or justice. Throughout the movie, a more upscale newspaper, the Sentinel, offers him a higher-paying job, but, Henry, who thrives on the fast-pace of the Sun’s newsroom, seems hesitant to make a career change despite his wife’s urgent pleas. Such a career change would mean less hours, and more money, but far less exciting for his tastes.
In the midst of a family crisis and potential career change, Hackett comes across a story that tests his ability to make ethical decisions as a journalist. Hackett learns that two minority youths have been arrested for the murder of two white men. While the police have reason to believe that the killings may be a mob hit, in the court of public opinion, the suspects are being held guilty. With the rising pressure, even the police seem to be giving in. Upon hearing of this injustice, Hackett desperately works with his staff to unravel the truth and prove the boys’ innocence. One of the important principles that journalists should remember is; “Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.” In this case, it appears that some of the reporters were drawing their conclusion about the boys’ innocence based upon their race. This is poor reporting ethics.
“The Paper,” presents an accurate picture of the confusion that rises among reporters who hold different values in their careers. While some reporters do hold to a value, unfortunately, many reporters do not, and such reporters are also pictured in “The Paper”.
I thought that Hackett did a great job at “seeking truth and finding it.” According the SPJ Code of Ethics, “Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.” This was well illustrated by Hackett in his decision to seek the truth behind the story of the two boys who are unjustly accused. Rather than giving in to the pressure, he chooses to spend time investigating the truth behind the murder of the two white men, which happened to take place in a low-income neighborhood. In this story, Hackett also illustrates another principle, “Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.” In this case, Hackett was criticized for wanting to investigate and verify facts. Even Alicia Clark, one of the head editors argues, “It [the story] only has to be right for a day.” Henry responds by saying, “the whole world can change in 24 hours.”
It would have been very easy for Hackett give in to the pressure and have a story printed that was not true. However, as a journalist, Hackett was not content with printing a false story for the sake of meeting a deadline. Hackett followed a very important principle: “Give voice to the voiceless.” In this case, the accused had no voice; they had no one to step in to defend their case.
Journalists have such an incredible opportunity to influence people. In some respects, impact, and change rests in the power of the pen. What journalists report online as well as in print will, inevitably influence the reader’s thinking. For this reason journalists must carefully consider what they publish.
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