DECEPTIVE JOURNALISM

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DECEPTIVE JOURNALISM
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RECENT CASE STUDIES

• BOSTON GLOBE
• 1998, Two Reporters fired for making up stories
• CINCINNATI ENQUIRER
• 1998, Reporter fired for stealing voice mail from
  Chiquita in order to attack their business
  practices

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• CNN/TIME MAGAZINE
• 1998, Fired two producers, one resigned one
  reporter reprimanded for inaccurate story
  accusing the military of using nerve gas
• THE NEW REPUBLIC
• 1998, Determined that a former associate editor
  made up all or parts of dozens of stories

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• DALLAS MORNING NEWS/WALL STREET JOURNAL
• 1998, Forced to retract stories on Monica
  Lewinsky/Clinton on their internet sites because
  of errors
• OWENSBORO (KY.) MESSENGER-INQUIRER
• 1999, Reporter fabricated 5 columns about her
  life death struggle with cancer to hide the
  fact that she had AIDS

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OBJECTIVITY AND JOURANLISM

• 19TH CENTURY/EARLY 20TH CENTURY HIGHLY
  OPINIONATED STORIES
• NEWS ENTERTAINMENT DISTINCT AND SEPARATE
• NEWS BUREAUS GRADUALLY CONSIDERED PART OF BOTTOM
  LINE--HAVE TO MAKE MONEY

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• NEWS NOW EXPECTED TO HOLD ATTENTION AND ENTERTAIN
• LINE BETWEEN TABLOIDS AND OTHER NEWS SOURCES LESS
  DISTINCT THAN IN PAST
• LINE BETWEEN GOSSIP/HEARSAY/FICTION TRUTH LESS
  DISTINCT

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THE FUTURE?

• DRUDGE REPORT
• An online, unedited internet site for news