Journalists look like parasites in the movies & more on "Watchdogs of Democracy"

In Chapter 2, Helen Thomas shifts from showing the misdeeds of journalists to listing off the times journalists have helped bring about social justice and attention on corruption in government leadership. I found it interesting how she wrote about the change in privacy a public official was allowed. She said that during JFK's administration there had been a "golden rule": that private lives of high-ranking leadership such as the president was off-limits.(23) Obviously that has changed as Thomas points out and as we can see with the Clinton & Lewinsky affair.
It seems to me alot of people perceive journalists as scavengers looking for fresh meat. When journalists get the scent of a scandal or corruption they come flocking. At least that is how the movies and TV depict journalists. I think the big scandalous stories are important and do need to be reported on, but journalists should also be digging deeper and trying to find the real truth. This should be their number one goal in order to inform the people about real issues and concerns that actually affect them. For example, a journalist writes a story about a suicide and talks about the blood and horror. It may be a good story but how does it help or inform. It does inform the people of the act. But what if there are a rash of suicides due to depression in the area. This would be the deeper, more important story to report.
If high officials were doing something extremely illegal or corrupt they could throw many journalists off by putting up a smokescreen, something that distracts the journalists from the important stuff going on. I think this happens a lot actually.
This is why it is important for a journalists to look deep and dedicate themselves to report the important truth and not just the bones thrown to them by the politicians and corporations in power.

Journalism-A Most Honorable Profession-Or is it? Helen Thomas's "Watchdogs of Democracy"

In the first chapter of her book, Helen Thomas points out the many instances throughout history where journalists have lied, plagiarized, and tarnished the image and credibility of journalism. Yet Thomas maintains that Journalism is an honorable profession. The three main principles of the code of ethics: Seeking truth and reporting it, Minimizing harm, and Acting independently are high ideals. I believe there is honor in following these principles. When journalists follow these standards, journalism is a very honorable profession. However, when journalists lie, fabricate stories, or hide the truth for money, how hideous their acts appear next to the code of ethics they have disregarded.
On Wed. I went and saw Seymour Hersh speak. Coincidentally, he spoke on the same topic. Hersh said that early on American journalism failed in reporting the truth about the war on terror and George W. Bush, but he feels that the improvement of our journalism is the one way we can hold leadership to a higher standard. Hersh said that he felt that by being a journalist he has served the country as much as someone in the military.
It is a difficult task to seek the truth and report it. The truth is a powerful thing. It can cause fear, shame, even death. It can also bring happiness,pride, and it can even save someone's life.It is inspiring to know that by seeking the truth and reporting it honestly a journalist can help society be free.
One time when my dad was punishing me for some reason, he said,"You can get a thousand Atta-boys. But one Aw-shit wipes them all out."
They same goes for journalists. One little fabrication can ruin a journalist's credibility in the eye of the public. It doesn't matter how much the journalist changes; once the public loses their trust in someone it is gone forever. Bye-bye.