An ethical dilemma

For your consideration - A few months back, the opinions editor of Central Connecticut State University's student newspaper, The Recorder was fired because the staff found that her involvement with activist organizations violated their code of ethics that says that reporters can not be involved with organizations that are politically active.

Read this, and then ask yourself - should we allow students who are involved in certain clubs and organizations to report for us?


JAMES H. SMITH: Students should adhere to professional ethics

Saturday, April 18, 2009 9:45 PM EDT

By JAMES H. SMITH
Executive Editor

By all accounts, Marissa Blaszko, the fired opinion editor of Central Connecticut State University's student newspaper, The Recorder, is an astute, sharp, inquisitive young woman, a sophomore with a thirst to learn and a desire to write.

It is too bad her activism got in the way of her newspaper position. Newspapers, on campuses and off, need dedicated, smart editors. But The Recorder editorial board was right in dismissing Ms. Blaszko because activism and journalism do not mix.

The Recorder's Code of Ethics mirrors the professional codes: "Editors ... shall not participate in any form of student, local or national government and should be free of any ties to any political organization, campus-based or otherwise."

It's quite clear that Ms. Blaszko's membership in the Youth for Socialist Action club violates the paper's rules.

In professional journalism, the ethics codes apply not to just editors, but to all journalists, reporters and photographers included. The American Society of Newspaper Editors first promulgated its ethics code in a 1922 "Statement of Principles." It states in part:

"The primary purpose of gathering and distributing news and opinion is to serve the general welfare by informing the people and enabling them to make judgments on the issues of the time. Newspapermen and women who abuse the power of their professional role for selfish motives or unworthy purposes are faithless to that public trust. The American press was made free not just to inform or just to serve as a forum for debate but also to bring an independent scrutiny to bear on the forces of power in the society . . .

"Journalists must avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety as well as any conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict . . . Every effort must be made to assure that the news is accurate and free from bias and in context, and that all sides are presented fairly."

So, journalists must give up some of the benefits of citizenship. You can't join a protest against the Iraq war, for example, and then have any credibility in presenting a balanced account in your coverage of that war.

Should the standards be the same for students? Well, take engineering students, or medical students, or law students - should they follow the precepts of their prospective career while they are studying it, or should they be allowed to break those precepts because they are only students? I think not. Could a law student, in mock court, break the confidential relationship between attorney and client because he is still only a student? No.

Ms. Blaszko holds the newspaper is a club and not necessarily a training ground for journalists.

Maybe there is room for compromise at Central Connecticut State University for The Recorder and Ms. Blaszko. Since its code covers only editors, she could be a reporter, but then questions would arise on her ability to be fair on some subjects. So how about giving her a column? With a column, clearly labeled as her opinion and not the newspaper's, she could continue to contribute to the marketplace of ideas that is a university community and there would be no violation of the student newspaper's ethical code.

In the professional world of journalism, columnists, by definition, write from their own point of view. The professional codes still apply on community activism and joining advocacy groups even for opinion writers and editors, but here and now at CCSU it would be permissible to give this alert and active student the forum she seeks.

And if some on campus don't like her socialist views, then Recorder editors could find a contrary voice to harness into words in the newspaper.

James H. Smith is executive editor of The Herald and The Bristol Press. Reach him at 860-225-4601 ext. 304; or at jsmith@newbritainherald.com or jsmith@bristolpress.com.



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