Monthly Archives: December 2009

December 31, 2009

Ethics Hero Emeritus: Lester Rodney (1911-2009)

Any man or woman with values and principles can make a difference in society, simply by keeping an important idea alive. Lester Rodney’s life is proof of that. Continue reading →

Checkbook Journalism at NBC

The Society of Professional Journalists has properly condemned NBC for the journalistic ethics sin of “checkbook journalism.” Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Around the World, Journalism & Media

Tagged as checkbook journalism, ethics, honesty, integrity, journalistic ethics, NBC, The Society of Professional Journalists, Today Show

December 29, 2009

The 2009 Ethics Alarms Awards, Part 1: The Worst

Welcome to the first annual Ethics Alarms Awards, recognizing the best and worst of ethics in 2009. These are the Worst; the Best is yet to come. Continue reading →

14 Comments

Filed under Around the World, Arts & Entertainment, Business & Commercial, Education, Government & Politics, Journalism & Media, Law & Law Enforcement, Popular Culture, Professions, Public Service, Philanthropy, Charity, Sports, The Internet, U.S. Society

Tagged as "birthers", ACORN, AIG, Al Gore, Bernie Madoff, Bountiful Junior High, Brent Benjamin, Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Company, Carrie Prejean, Chris Brown, CNN, conflicts of interest, David Letterman, Dina Lohan, ethics, Ethics Alarms Awards, Facebook, Fear-mongering, gay marriage, global warming, Gov. Mark Sanford, health care reform, Hollywood, Janet Napolitano, John Edwards, Jon Gosselin, Kanye West, Lindsay Lohan, Lou Dobbs, Michael Lohan, Miss USA, New Jersey, New York State Senate, Nickelodeon, Nobel prize, Northwest Airlines Flight 188, Octomom, Perez Hilton, Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. Joe Wilson, Richard Henne, Rihanna, Robin Meade, Rod Blagojevich, Roman Polanski, Sarah Palin, Secret Service, Securities Exchange Commission, Sen. John Ensign, Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. Roland Burris, sex, Susan Roesgen, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, Taylor Swift, teachers, the U.S. Supreme Court, The Washington Post, Tiger Woods, Whoopi Goldberg, William Jefferson

December 28, 2009

Why Fenway Fans Boo Johnny Damon

Why do Fenway fans boo Johnny Damon? Ethics! Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Business & Commercial, Journalism & Media, Sports

Tagged as baseball, Boston Red Sox, Dan Shaughnessy, ethics, honesty, integrity, Johnny Damon, loyalty, Luis Tiant, New York Yankees, respect

December 28, 2009

TMZ’s JFK: Fake Photo, Same Ethics Questions

Yes, I should have known: the TMZ JFK photo was indeed a hoax. The same ethical issues apply, however. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under The Internet

Tagged as "The Smoking Gun", competence, ethics, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, responsibility, TMZ, web hoaxes

December 28, 2009

Napolitano Ethics: “Heck of a job, Janet!”

Is it too much to ask that our government officials don’t try to con us, deceive us, and treat us like idiots? According to Janet Napolitano, yes. Continue reading →

7 Comments

Filed under Government & Politics

Tagged as accountability, Candy Crowley, CNN, ethics, FEMA, Homeland Security, honesty, Hurricane Katrina, integrity, Janet Napolitano, Michael Brown, Northwest Flight 253, Obam Administration, President George W. Bush, res ipsa loquitur, spin, terrorism, trustworthiness

December 28, 2009

Conservative Stories, Liberal Stories: Isn’t a Drunk Senator Just Plain News?

Only conservative blogs and media seem to see anything intoxicated about the Max Baucus’s speech. This isn’t just silly; it is harmful. Continue reading →

8 Comments

Filed under Government & Politics, Journalism & Media, Professions, The Internet, U.S. Society

Tagged as CNN, drunkeness, Foster Brooks, journalistic ethics, New York Times, partisanship, Politico, professional ethics, Roshomon Effect, Sen. Max Baucus, Senate health care bill