2008 Woodie Awards
The Times needs to put integrity before politics
Steven C. Vogel
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Opinion
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It seems like news organizations choose to open their mouths, move their pens and make decisions that are simply unplanned and irresponsible.
When reporters, media executives and advertising representatives place their own motives and interests above providing the news to the public, they completely jeopardize their integrity and objectivity.
The Sept. 20 edition of The New York Times had an advertisement for the liberal anti-war organization MoveOn.org that was attacking General Petraeus, who is a commander in the United States Army responsible for overseeing military progress in Iraq.
This advertisement that read "Petraeus or Betray Us?" implied that the U.S. military and Petraeus have failed to provide accurate and unbiased information to Congress and the public, therefore "betraying" the American people.
The advertisement was published following Petraeus' appearance before Congress, in which he gave an analysis of the current situation in Iraq and the success of the recent troop surge.
Since media organizations have been strapped for money during the past few years, I was thrown for a loop that the Times would offer a $142,083 advertisement space to a political advocacy organization like MoveOn for only $64,575.
According to the Times, MoveOn was "inaccurately charged" and that "the people who mistrust journalism are going to assign bias as the motive for the discount to MoveOn, even though news and advertising departments are separate."
Furthermore, according to the Times, MoveOn forwarded a check in the amount of $77,508 after it was revealed that the organization was undercharged for a "standby" advertisement.
Regardless of what side of the aisle you are on, I am baffled that a company that is struggling to survive would lower advertisement fees just to help make a political statement.
It sickens and disgusts me to think that such a conglomerate would put profits and personal agendas before basic principles of integrity and objectivity.
When reporters, media executives and advertising representatives place their own motives and interests above providing the news to the public, they completely jeopardize their integrity and objectivity.
The Sept. 20 edition of The New York Times had an advertisement for the liberal anti-war organization MoveOn.org that was attacking General Petraeus, who is a commander in the United States Army responsible for overseeing military progress in Iraq.
This advertisement that read "Petraeus or Betray Us?" implied that the U.S. military and Petraeus have failed to provide accurate and unbiased information to Congress and the public, therefore "betraying" the American people.
The advertisement was published following Petraeus' appearance before Congress, in which he gave an analysis of the current situation in Iraq and the success of the recent troop surge.
Since media organizations have been strapped for money during the past few years, I was thrown for a loop that the Times would offer a $142,083 advertisement space to a political advocacy organization like MoveOn for only $64,575.
According to the Times, MoveOn was "inaccurately charged" and that "the people who mistrust journalism are going to assign bias as the motive for the discount to MoveOn, even though news and advertising departments are separate."
Furthermore, according to the Times, MoveOn forwarded a check in the amount of $77,508 after it was revealed that the organization was undercharged for a "standby" advertisement.
Regardless of what side of the aisle you are on, I am baffled that a company that is struggling to survive would lower advertisement fees just to help make a political statement.
It sickens and disgusts me to think that such a conglomerate would put profits and personal agendas before basic principles of integrity and objectivity.
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