A Salute to Integrity

Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. -- From the SPJ’s Code of Ethics Integrity – now there’s a concept.

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This article is not an attempt to slam “partisan media” – the media who are obvious in their political affiliations, agendas, and loyalties. This article is about the main-stream media (MSM) that pretend to be “fair and balanced,” but are not. The bulk of the main-stream media have betrayed their public trust, their profession, and their country. They are not journalists; they are propagandists. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) is the largest and most broad-based journalism organization in the United States, with around 13500 members. The SPJ has a Code of Ethics that its members are supposed to adhere to. This is one of their rules: Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context. "Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting." In other words, if your reporting is biased in favor of one political side over another, then you are not reporting news -- you are promoting a personal preference. That is exactly what the vast majority of the MSM have done in this current Presidential race. The media bias towards Obama has been blatant, vocal, and sustained. The media attacks against the McCain/Palin ticket have been numerous, crass, and consistent. Regardless of who wins this election, the main-stream media is a loser. Their collective collusion as advocates for Obama has not gone unnoticed. The public is well aware of the MSM's bias in this matter, and will bear it in mind when seeking trustworthy coverage in the future. The Fox network stands poised to garner a much larger share of the viewing audience. Fox is head and shoulders above their competition in regard to fair and balanced coverage. All the other major networks have been flagrantly backing Obama – the only differences are ones of degree. Outside of Fox you will not find any true journalism in the major TV networks – only leftist sycophants promoting their agenda. Fox News does an admirable job of presenting both sides of the story. The Left tries to paint the Fox network as being a right-wing conservative organization, but that just isn’t true. Fox is right-wing only in comparison to the radical left – who consider anyone who isn’t of the radical left to be a right-wing extremist. The Obama camp apparently considers fair and balanced journalism distasteful, impertinent, and even insulting. Look at how they reacted to TV anchor Barbara West’s intelligent questioning of Senator Biden. Look how they treated the reporters from the Washington Times, New York Post, and the Dallas Morning News. All three papers dared to disagree with Obama. If Obama wins the election, America will no doubt get a Minister of Propaganda – just to ensure that folks get the right news. With very few exceptions, the so-called “Fourth Estate” – journalism – has failed the American public miserably. They’re supposed to be watchdogs for freedom; not lapdogs for the Left. Journalists – REAL journalists – are supposed be incisive, objective, truth-hounds. Instead, most MSM reporters look like a bunch of tongue-tied, starry-eyed, groupies. Where is the in-depth investigative journalism? Where are the tough, hard-hitting questions? And I don’t mean in regard to Governor Palin. The alluring herd-call of the Obamanista’s has obviously been heard and responded to, by all too many journalists. I salute Fox News, and all the other news outlets that try to present their public with the truth. They are an essential bulwark, shoring up American freedom. Without such journalism; -- journalism with integrity – America would be in deep trouble. As for the bulk of the MSM journalists – they should be ashamed of themselves, but undoubtedly are not. When you don't hold yourself accountable to any code of ethics, then breaking them is of no importance. And no, I don’t own stock in Fox News – wish I did.