Questions on Media responsibility

[will_in_chicago]

A friend recently raised questions about the issue of media responsibility in the wake of reports about something horrible that involved members of his family.

Some of you may remember Herb "Sarge" Phelps, former host of the Unreported News Radio Show on 1480 KPHX in Phoenix. He also called into Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy about reports of the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast. He also sometimes posts here as SargeUNN.

Here is the basic story of what happened from the Mississippi Press.
Full Report: Neighbors arrested in Gautier tied-up woman case.

Since then, Sarge has said that local media has identified his sister by name, showed her house on local television, but have not reported that the main suspect in the case is out on bond.


Here is Sarge's comments on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jzgxirF2OI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jzgxirF2OI

When I heard about this I asked myself, what is the responsibility of the media in reporting crimes. When should victims be identified? Is it proper to film outside of a crime scene when it is someone's home? Also, was there a double standard in identifying the victim in some accounts but not stating that the main suspect was out on bond? What do you think?

[Scuba]

1. I have one. Why are you using the words "media" and "responsibility" in the same sentence?

[will_in_chicago]

2. There was a time

There was a time, which many of us remember, when media outlets viewed their first duty as one of informing the public as opposed to ratings. So, I may be a bit old-fashioned in asking that we have consistent standards. Perhaps we have to be the media now in an age of consolidation.

[Scuba]

3. Weird, huh? And if you look even further back....

...the Framers of the Constitution has this odd notion about a "free press" being an integral part of society, with the responsibility of keeping government honest.


Now if they'd of only thought of some way to keep corporations honest.

[will_in_chicago]

4. There are a few ways to keep corporations honest

The Founders were well away of the potential of corporate power, having dealt with the monopoly that was the British East Indies Company. So, Thomas Jefferson addressed this issue and urged taxes on estates. There also was a call for taxes on corporations.

I would recommend reading Thom Hartmann's Screwed for some thoughts from the Founding Fathers on corporate power.