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As I watched last night’s GOP debate, I was confronted with a couple of encouragements. The most notable was the audience response to the “so-out-in-left-field-they-don’t-know-where-home-is” media’s redundant and pointed question about Cain’s alleged sexual misconduct charges. The media has inundated us day after aggravating day about this with No Facts, No Sources, No legitimate victims … only anonymous shams! So when asked last night about the various claims, the crowd “boo’d” the question! (Very cool!) Mr Cain answered well and true, as only he can, and then the media, unsatisfied with the lack of blood-letting, redirected the question to Mr Romney, who wisely refused to participate in the question! THE END! And the poor, blood-starved media sharks returned to the stated topic of the economy.

Now, if you frequent my pages here, you know that one of my integral themes is that of CHARACTER/morality/virtue. Encased in the question posed to Herman Cain, was a back-handed question about his CHARACTER that nearly caused my jaw to drop! Of all the people running for President in 2012, CHARACTER questions are not at the top of my list … except perhaps with President Obama. None of the current GOP candidates, with the possible exception of Newt Gingrich, have an issue with CHARACTER.

Character is what one is;
Reputation is what one is thought to be by others

The local and national mainstream media, on the other hand, has moved so far to the left that right is out of sight and left has become “center” in their eyes. It has been going on for so long now … back beyond Walter Cronkite and the Huntley-Brinkley Report. I knew then that the media slanted to the left … and I was just a kid! They ask pointed questions for which they have already specific expectations that many have built into an “agenda” of the left.

My point is … does the Media have journalistic integrity sufficient to point their ethical or moral fingers at others?

Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics

“Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society’s principles and standards of practice.” (emphasis mine)

“A person shows what he is by what he does with what he has.” ~ Anonymous

Journalists should:

— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.

— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability.

— Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.

— Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

— Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.

— Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.

— Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story.

— Never plagiarize.

— Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.

— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.

— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.

— Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

— Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.

— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.

— Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

— Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.