NO ETHICS....NOT A JOURNALIST.....

Like the medical profession and their adherence to the Hippocratic Oath, journalists are bound by a Code of Ethics. I'm a firm believer in an ethical balance in just about every course of life, only those in the "journalistic" fields have thrown out ALL the rules. The print media has appeared to take on certain stances with complete disregard to ethics, as well as the 24 hour news, and network news organizations. No one is shocked by this, I'm sure.

In my humble opinion, I feel we can no longer call many of these shows that air - "news" shows. Believeing that one needs a degree in journalism to sit behind a desk, whether that would be in front of a camera or in a newspaper office - appears to be passe as well. So, if one does not have a degree in journalism, they are NOT required to follow the journalism Code of Ethics? Something has gone terribly wrong!

I have compiled a "small" (ha!) list of those we see daily - and their college degrees.

ABC
Diane Sawyer - Degree in English '67, Wellesley College
Charles Gibson - B.A. ? (not journalism) '65, Princeton University (failed to get in Harvard Law School)


CBS
Katie Couric - Degree in American Studies '79, University of Virginia (daughter of journalist)



NBC
Brian Williams - Brookdale Community College > George Washington University > The Catholic University of America...no degree! Honorary Doct. of Journalism from The Ohio State University '08


CNN
Wolf Blitzer - B.A. History, M.A. International Relations, Johns Hopkins University
Rick Sanchez - University of Minnesota - Journalism Scholarship - no degree.
Anderson Cooper - Degrees in Political Science and INternational Relations, Yale University '89.
Campbell Brown - B.A. Political Science, Regis College



MSNBC
Rachel Maddow - Deg. in Public Policy '94, Rhodes Scholar, Doctor of Philosophy, Oxford University '01.
Keith Olbermann - B.S. in Communication Arts, Cornell '79.
Joe Scarborough - B.A. Univ. of Alabama, JD, Univ. of Florida College of Law '90.
Chris Matthews - Deg. Economics, College of the Holy Cross '67.
Ed Schultz - Grad. of Minnesota State University (? degree).
Dylan Ratigan - B.A. Political Economics, Union College



FOX
Chris Wallace - Attended Harvard - no degree.
Bill O'Reilly - Marist College, History, B.A. '71, Queen Mary College of University of London, M.A. Broadcast Journalism Boston University.
Glenn Beck - Took one theology class @ Yale Univ. (Sen. Joe Lieberman recommended him through Courses for Non-Traditional Students. No Degrees.
Sean Hannity - What can I say...He was a general contractor and a bartender - NO HIGHER EDUCATION.
Greta Van Susteren - Deg. from Univ. of Wisconsin in Geography & Economics. Law degree from Georgetown University Law Center '79.
Shepard Smith - Univ. of Mississippi - studied Journalism, no degree.
Steve Doocy - Univ. of Kansas, B.A. in Journalism.
Brian Kilmeade - Grad. of Long Island University (? degree)

After I perused the journalism code of ethics...it was quite apparent that there is a complete disregard for most tenets, in most reporting agencies. I would imagine that is why I prefer to have multiple sources for my information.

The primary problem would be ACCURACY. And this is just "in your face", Faux Noise lacks the most accuracy. "Deliberate distortion is never permissible" - would be Faux's basic faux pas. Watching Hannity the other night (saw it on video - never watch it live), put up a video for Michael Moore's benefit - trying to trip him up with "their" undercover video of a hospital in Cuba - was hysterical.

Hannity was trying to give a "gotcha" moment to Moore - in opposition to his movie "Sicko", when he stated about the premium care in Cuban hospitals. Being the total asshole that Hannity is - he actually thought he was going to show a cut and edited video to a great director? WTF?? When Hannity asked for Moore's response to the squalor he was seeing on the film, Moore stated, "I'm waiting to see patients, or doctors and nurses." The light bulb must have gone off, and Hannity quickly tried to change the subject as he was caught dead to rights, with scamming the audience with the doctored film.

But this is what people believe - it is being aired on their TV's "so it must all be true!"

The FCC or powers that be, need to hold these news outlets to some ethical standard. I would love to see the day when "fair and balanced" truly means just that.

Until that time - we must ask questions and check sources and facts - because the people we depend on, certainly have missed the mark.

Trivia on journalism major Sarah Palin:
Attended Hawaii Pacific University - business admin. program, one semester Fall '82.
Attended North Idaho College - general studies two semesters '83.
Attended Univ. of Idaho - Journalism major - left Spring of '85
Attended Matanuska-Susitna College - one semester.
Back to Univ. of Idaho - finally degree in journalism.

She apparently is well qualified to be on any of these cable/network shows!! Egads!!!!

AND SHE STILL CAN'T PUT TOGETHER A COHERENT SENTENCE OR TANGIBLE THOUGHT!! SCARY!!



Off to buy some more OTC meds. Feeling slightly better, but throat still sore. Have a good one. Later.....................



DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY: PAST THE VELVET ROPE (FRIDAY POSTINGS)

Is there a RIGHT answer here????

Yes, I know I blogged about this previously, but the subject just will not go away. How could it? This woman is 33 years old with six children already in the home (under the age of 7) and she cannot handle them without the assistance of her parents. Parents I might add, who have voluntarily aided their daughter financially to the point of personal ruin. The mother has made the statement in the past, that she would not be in the home, when the daughter and eight newborns return from the hospital.

Certainly, this woman did not expect her parents for total assistance, both physically and financially - to continue their support. I do believe that the psychiatrist in the video is correct...this woman is delusional.

I'm not shocked to hear the press report that she has hired a publicist and is hoping for multi-million deals, of one type or another. She has also stated she expects to nab a "reality" show deal - as to parenting. Not on your life crazy, warped in the head, lady...I would give no credence to this woman in regards to "parenting" issues.

Parenting is far removed from pregnancy. Anyone, animal or human can get pregnant (excuse me to those women who have fertility issues), but that is NO guarantee of good parenting. How can this woman BOND with eight newborns? Bonding is so vitally important in the nurturing stages of life - and there is no way, one person can spread themselves that thin.

Considering California is letting $3.8 billion in bills go unpaid...how will California be able to support this woman and her brood...and why should they? Had this been a married woman, who was struggling to get pregnant, I might have a different opinion. But then again, ethically, doctors should do everything humanly possible to make sure that a multiple pregnancy does not produce a "litter." For those who might argue "abortion vs. selective reduction" - there is no argument. And I refuse to listen to "God's plan was for so many babies." God, did not implant multiple embryos - this is human intervention. But I will not get into that argument here.

Should this woman get these financial deals...I say shame on those who would watch such a reality show and support her mission. this woman, without a doubt, needs professional help, and I mean her mental issues. I feel sorry for these infants in a way - for the lack of attention they may face and possibly physical issues also. I believe I also read that one of her six previous children is autistic. Will that child also suffer, from the lack of attention he/she may need?

I'm angered, frustrated and downright mad over this situation - can ya tell? Just allow me to vent a little and I will try to behave....later.

As much as I would hate to see these eight babies split up, I honestly believe they may thrive better in homes capable of overseeing their needs. Too many women would love to have the opportunity to be a mother, and unfortunately cannot afford the procedures necessary to fulfill that desire. Just a consideration.

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Our water situation was rectified and we were notified that we could again resume water usage around 3 pm yesterday. The EPA is continuing their investigation into the causes and overall effects from yesterdays water incident. I assure you, there is enough blame to go around here. Some people are already talking lawsuits - they need to get a life. No one was injured, the village staff did their jobs well and followed all mandated procedures. I still have a problem with their notification procedures, but that will be dealt with later.

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Tax season has begun and I have quite a few returns to start, so I shall return later................

Happiness turns to controversy....

I'm sure everyone has read about the birth of these octuplets recently. When I first heard of this event, I thought, that is great, a couple trying to have children through other methods, has successfully been given a family. A huge one at that.

But now more information is coming to light, which makes me ponder the situation as maybe NOT so great. This woman has SIX other children in the home, comprised of one set of twins and ranging in ages from 2 to 7. Now, this is a family with 14 children under the age of 7. What is wrong with this picture?

Apparently, she was given a choice of selective reduction, once the number of fetuses was revealed (originally thought to be seven). A procedure which was refused. With the economy being such as it is, even bringing a child into the world at the moment gives one pause, as to the expenses involved in rearing a child - much less 14. Was this couple hoping for an immediate television deal, such as the couple who just delivered their umpteenth child? Was this couple thinking that the sympathetic neighbors and friends would donate all the necessities, i.e., diapers, bottles, formula, etc.?

Apparently the husband is headed back to Iraq, as he is a contractor, and says he needs to get back to work to support his family. I'm not sure that even he can make enough money to support a brood this large. CORRECTION: The grandfather is headed to Iraq...this woman is unmarried.

I also have ethical questions. 1. What fertility clinic would avail themselves to this couple if they honestly knew that there were already six children in the home, all very young? All IVF clinics offer psychiatric counselling to gauge suitability of parents to handle multiple births. 2. How honest was this woman, since she supposedly filed for bankruptcy last year - where did the money come from for IVF treatments (and they aren't cheap)? ***There has never been a documented case of naturally conceived octuplets.

I would imagine that a lot more information will be revealed in the near future, but I would hope that this family does not end up being supported by the government, in some sort of bizarre ruse they were hoping to fulfill.

I would also hope that this woman and supposedly a husband - can physically meet the demands of 8 premature infants plus the remaining six children. The house that this woman and her children are living in, is owned by her parents, and in a cul-de-sac of three bedroom homes. This could be interesting.

I will be waiting to see how this story evolves. Curiosity killed the cat, you know!

Thedaughter is trying to get (drive) to the grocery store, but the weather is frightful. We have gotten four inches of snow since I got up early this morning - and that is on top of two inches of ice. This is when I regret trading in my 4WD.