As an aspiring journalist, we are told daily of ethical values which we must up-hold to keep a respectable name. Most journalist do this while others tend to teeter off. When lawyers go to law school they are also given strict rules on ethical decision making, but like journalist, some tend to teeter off. The Washington Post has an article that demonstrates just that. The Justice Department made a decision to reject sanctions against lawyers who approved torture techniques. Deputy Attorney General David Margolis, who rejected the sanctions against the lawyers, John C. Yoo and Jay S. Bybee, stated that both sides of the ethical and defense teams where “facts that cuts both ways.” Jack M. Balkin, a Yale University law professor, said, “It’s not what people should do, but about how badly they have to screw up before they are subject to professional sanctions”. This article continues to agree with Balkins statement, in that the American legal department takes it time until the after affects are brought to light. Rarely do lawyers come into question on ethical decisions and ethical investigations, experts say. The article really shows the reader the ethical and non-ethical laws, and actions, that do not go into question unless discovered. This opens the door to many questions that go unanswered, and really makes the reader think about the possibilities of unethical behavior from our government. Some of Bybee and Yoo’s colleagues blame the White House for pressuring and threatening the lawyers with chargers of misconduct. While this make for a counter argument, the laws where still passed, leaving some agents a “get out of jail free card”. Under ethics rule, lawyers are taught to be competent and independent to their clients, so when Yoo believed he was doing the right thing, then there isn’t much to discipline him on. War time is a time when naturally every one is scared and rules are bent to accomplish goals, but how far should they bend? Journalist and lawyers may seem like different jobs, but ethical decisions can play a major role in defining the characteristics and reputation of said person. Honest and ethical decisions are always the best quality, but when these rules are bent, who is really to blame?
Hmmm… you have some really great points and ideas going on here. Never really saw or even thought of a link between lawyers and journalist before.
Honestly, I don’t know who is to blame for letting unethical decisions just fly. I mean, theres the stupid saying, “don’t hate the player hate the game”…lol. But isn’t kinda the players fault too for letting the game to go on in the first place?
I think most people are brought up in such a way that they know the difference between right and wrong and most people I hope will do the right thing. But there are times in everyone’s life that things get alittle blurred and it could really go either way.
I don’t think it’s so important for us students of journalism to be so concerned with what’s going on with ethical decisions and why aren’t reporters doing what they are supposed to do. I think we need to look as these examples and know thats what not to do. We want to change it for the better but for right now, we are in no position to tell them how to do their jobs. We have no work experience and barely any life experience.
At least for me, what is happening in the Washington Post or the New York Times doesn’t directly affect me right now in this moment. Im still just a student and will be for the next 2 years maybe longer if I go to Grad school. I just need now, while I sit in a classroom to become strong with my values and who I am as a writer and person, and when I get out into the workforce know that I won’t be apart of that game.
Very interesting post. Give us a link to the article in question please! And use paragraphs to make your posts easier to navigate. 5/5.