As America keeps its collective eyes glued to the Academy Awards, perhaps it's fitting to rewind movie history to 1941 and to what many film fanatics consider the finest film ever made -- Citizen Kane.
The film chronicles the days of yellow journalism and muckraking when journalistic ethics -- or ethics in general -- went by the wayside.
Thank goodness those days are gone.
Or are they?
The recent revelation that two newspapers have filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the village of Buffalo Grove seeking the following:
- The most recent evaluation of Village Manager Bill Brimm
- Freedom of Information requests submitted to the village of Buffalo Grove between Feb. 1, 2010 and March 3, 2010.
OK, ask the question -- "why?"
One reporter had the nerve to tell me that the request was filed because "I thought it would be interesting to see any differences in trustees’ evaluations of Bill Brimm in the past year as opposed to the three years prior. I know a FOIA request might be a long shot, but I’ve never let that hold me back before. Any time a high ranking village official steps down, it raises an eyebrow. I didn’t think I’d be doing my job if I didn’t take a closer look."
Yeah, right. That excuse reminds me of a segment on the Boers and Bernstein show on WSCR (The Score) called "Who you crappin'?"
So let me get this right -- two reporters who don't even come to a Village Board meeting decide -- at the same time -- to file an FOIA request to check on the past performance of Village Manager Bill Brimm.
Who you crappin'?
You'd almost think someone would put them up to it, wouldn't you? Really now, wonder who it would be?
Maybe some of the officials in other cities I've spoken with who have nothing but praise for Brimm and the way Buffalo Grove has been managed for decades. Yeah, must of been them.
I mean, who else would be spineless enough to do something like that? Reputable public officials or elected officials, right?
Wrong.
Probably someone who wants to make a name for himself, wait, herself.
Maybe, just a maybe a recently elected public official who suddenly arrives on the scene brandishing a sword of reform. Like, say, Lisa Stone.
Yeah, the same Lisa Stone who never never served on a village commission becomes an expert in municipal affairs...yeah, the same Lisa Stone who waved the ethics ordinance and the code of ethical behavior and conduct for village elected and appointed officials.
I guess encouraging others to do her dirty work doesn't fall into that category. The idea of having news media drag village personnel records into the public eye is a new low for any village official.
It also boarders on unacceptable behavior by a journalist. Let's clarify that -- ethical journalist.
Not my viewpoint -- but that of the Society of Professional Journalists which, in its code of ethics, says reporters should "minimize harm" by encouraging journalists to:
- — Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage.
- — Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
- — Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
The code also encourages journalists to "Act Independently" by:
- — Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
- — Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
But to go after a highly recognized village manager is OK, right. Especially if you're not regularly covering the village, right?
It's another smear campaign for Little Miss Sunshine.
It's getting old. What's also getting old is her vicious attacks on village staff and persons who dare to disagree with her.
Yes, this is the same Lisa Stone who wants the village to watch its budget, but thinks nothing of the cost involved in staff time, attorney fees, video recording fees so she can showcase herself.
See what's happening? The people of Buffalo Grove are funding Stoney's campaign.
Yes, the village is becoming a remake of Citizen Kane -- complete with our own little rosebud -- complete with thorns.
And when Stone goes on yet another tirade and waves her holier than though flag, hopefully more and more Buffalo Grove residents will have one question for her.
Lisa Stone, who you crappin'?
Why assume it will be a smear campaign? What if their request yields valuable and unknown information that the residents of BG should know? Why not wait before accusing people of perfidy and subterfuge?
ReplyDeleteA post about journalistic ethics that gives zero substantiation behind the claim these journalists were egged on by Stone? I heart irony.
I don't know which member of the Stone family commented on your blog Stan, but it's obvious one of them didn't appreciate the truth.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not Stone "egged on" the journalists, I find the information about journalistic ehtics that you shared enlightening.
Keep up the good work.
-->Why assume it will be a smear campaign? What if their request yields valuable and unknown information that the residents of BG should know? Why not wait before accusing people of perfidy and subterfuge?
ReplyDeleteA post about journalistic ethics that gives zero substantiation behind the claim these journalists were egged on by Stone? I heart irony. -- What is it that BG resident "should" know? Conversations with neighboring village officials are more than revealing. They are amazed by what's happening in Buffalo Grove.
As for "egged on by Stone" -- check out Monday's Board Meeting -- she said she has "had " to go to the media. The SPJ code of ethics encourages journalists to "minimize harm" -- irony -- Ms. Stone was upset by a comment in the Daily Herald that chided her family (granted, it was out of the political arena), but she doesn't think twice about chiding someone via personnel records?
--> I don't know which member of the Stone family commented on your blog Stan, but it's obvious one of them didn't appreciate the truth.<-- Their opinion.
--> Whether or not Stone "egged on" the journalists, I find the information about journalistic ehtics that you shared enlightening. <-- Just one aspect to consider.