By Leigh Dethman
The Salt Lake Tribune scandal that rocked the journalism world has made journalists take a look at their own ethical policies.
The past few weeks I have looked at myself in the mirror and asked many questions: 'Can my readers trust me?' 'Is my story accurately representing all sides of the issue?' 'What are the boundaries I set for myself as a journalist?'
I''ve spent the majority of my life getting an education, starting in preschool and ending with a college degree. After 18 years, I have learned one thing - never sell out to the National Enquirer.
Salt Lake Tribune reporters Michael Vigh and Kevin Cantera, the paper''s lead reporters in the Elizabeth Smart case, were fired because they sold information to the supermarket tabloid. The Tribune also axed Editor James 'Jay' Shelledy during the fallout from the events.
According to the National Enquirer, Cantera and Vigh sold information that suggested members of the Smart family were involved in a gay sex ring. Both reporters received $10,000 each for their part of the story, titled 'Utah Cops: Secret Diary Exposes Family Sex Ring.' The story was so shocking, some Salt Lake supermarkets refused to display or sell it.
The Society of Professional Journalists'' Code of Ethics says, 'Journalists should act independently, avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived, and remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.'
Vigh and Cantera threw caution to the wind and acted in blatant disregard for any newsroom ethical policies when they sold their souls to the National Enquirer.
I met Cantera at a recent SPJ conference. Ironically, Cantera was on a panel at the conference that talked about the ethics of covering the Elizabeth Smart case.
During the panel, Cantera said 'Reporters are not an arm of law enforcement.' True, media is a separate entity from law enforcement. But even though I''m a journalist and I''m supposed to present the facts, there is some innate responsibility I feel to serve my community.
If I were covering the Smart case, I would fully present the facts but still do everything in my being to bring her home, not sell inaccurate information to a tabloid for a substantial amount of money.
Vigh and Cantera cast a dark cloud on the journalism world. Although the Tribune lost credibility, every journalist suffers that same punishment.
Why would anyone want to trust a journalist now?
The majority of journalists live by a higher ethical standard. The Vigh and Cantera situation is just a small roadblock that journalists will encounter on the road to truth.
I''m a purist - I believe good will always win out in the end. Truth will prevail.
The Tribune reporters sold out. Sure, they sold insider information to the nation''s rumor mill- the National Enquirer. But the biggest sale was when Cantera and Vigh sold their integrity and credibility. It takes years to build trust, and only moments to shatter it.
Comments, questions and suggestions may be submitted to leigh@newsroom.byu.edu