Why don't more journalists face the music like NBC's Brian Williams?

2015-06-20T02:03:33-04:00

Say what you will about NBC’s handling of anchorman Brian Williams’s serial untruth-telling, but at least acknowledge this: Williams was suspended for six months without pay for his behavior and then lost his job over it. Or his main job, in any case.

Williams’s demotion to MSNBC for what NBC daintily called his “inaccurate” statements is practically the death penalty as these things go. Other high-profile journalists who have admitted their ethical sins have walked away with far more limited sanctions, or no sanctions at all. No suspensions, no firings, no sit-downs with Matt Lauer to confess, as Williams did, how painful his screw-ups have been to him. Beyond some sweaty but transitory moments of public shame, there hasn’t been much in the way of discipline.

George Stephanopoulos, Bill O’Reilly, Fareed Zakaria, the gang at Rolling Stone magazine — all have faced Williams-like turns in the barrel. And all have emerged perhaps chastened but very much steady as they go.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/news-analysis-why-dont-more-journalists-face-the-music-like-brian-williams/2015/06/19/efe64854-1685-11e5-89f3-61410da94eb1_story.html?hpid=z5

Why don’t more journalists face the music like NBC’s Brian Williams?

ANALYSIS | His punishment exceeds what other ethically challenged reporters have suffered.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2015 3:34 AM

2015-06-20T03:34:49-04:00

You can't even get the news to report the truth, nevermind be truthful themselves.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 20 at 2015 4:05 AM

2015-06-20T04:05:40-04:00

I could make a list of those that might be first to follow.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jun 20 at 2015 4:35 AM

2015-06-20T04:35:17-04:00

Brian Williams delivers an apology on the 'Today' show ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/20/arts/television/brian-williams-in-raw-form-delivers-an-apology-on-today.html?hpw&rref=television&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

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Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Jun 20 at 2015 9:39 AM

2015-06-20T09:39:33-04:00

I would say the biggest differences lay in the networks each works for. NBC understands that viewers have options (CBS & ABC) and they need to maintain, or at least appear to maintain the public trust.

Fox realizes that for the "conservative viewer" there really aren't any options, so why would they suspend O'Reilly?

CNN has had several reporter issues so I suspect it is as much about the internal culture as with Fareed Zakaria, et al. They simply don't see it as that big of an issue.

George Stephanopoulos may be to politically connected for ABC to feel comfortable about doing anything more than they have.

Response by SGT Lawrence Haney made Jun 20 at 2015 7:04 PM

2015-06-20T19:04:30-04:00

today broadcast journalism is a division of conglomerate corporations and ran by accountants in hope that they can increase share values and their viewing audience. Competition with the Internet news venues has forced upper management to focus on the entertainment aspects instead of actually telling the news. This was a managerial tactic to get rid of old school programming and develop new programming.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Jun 21 at 2015 3:57 PM

2015-06-21T15:57:58-04:00

It's all about who gets the biggest headlines gets the most money a best positions. He just got caught and became the headline!

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Jun 22 at 2015 6:04 PM

2015-06-22T18:04:48-04:00

Good question Gunny. I am waiting for the press to rehash Hillary's (liar lips) trash about visiting Bosnia under combat conditions. Worse thing in the world for these people are eye-witnesses!!!

Response by PO2 Rodney Simmons made Oct 16 at 2015 9:43 AM

2015-10-16T09:43:25-04:00

It's all corporate Journalism now. And as long as entertainment corporations own the news media, they can bend it all they want to. Gone are the days of Edward R. Murrow when news was actual truth and facts.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Oct 16 at 2015 9:57 AM

2015-10-16T09:57:28-04:00

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad to be totally truthful, I am more surprised that NBC dropped the hammer on Williams than I am that others don't face the music. News has become less and less about providing information, and more and more about slant. Sensationalism is all the rage. That sensationalism is increased if it supports their political leanings. The problem is that the outlets themselves cannot hold a news anchor accountable for "inaccurate" statements when that is exactly what they want. If I tell you that I want stories that support my world view, and you don't do that, you will be fired. If you do exactly that, then I fire you it makes me a hypocrite, and more practically opens me up to litigation. So like I said above, I am surprised that Williams was hammered at all.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 16 at 2015 10:01 AM

2015-10-16T10:01:16-04:00

Hopefully the increasing number of serious researchers [professional and amateur] will shed light on those who exaggerate or outright lie as newscasters GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad.
it always pays to check out a few news services. I rarely watch the news. I usually read it in print or on-line where I can pause and cross check what is stated.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Oct 16 at 2015 10:11 AM

2015-10-16T10:11:28-04:00

My guess would be that, rather like most other fraternities, the group rallies around their own.