Ethics In Journalism? – Not Really at Columbia University

One would think that aspiring reporters from Columbia University would work very hard to learn the real life ethics of being a reporter. Maybe they are just emulating their peers in the field way too well. As it seems that news stories these days are a colluded, diluted, and sullied by political viewpoints mess, so does the efforts by these Columbia University students, on an ethics exam!

These graduate students look like they are ready for their  journalism degrees as they have been caught cheating on an ethics exam by a whistleblower.  You have to love the irony of the situation.

Columbia University officials are lowering the boom on some graduate journalism students suspected of cheating on, of all things, an ethics exam.
The J-schoolers’ alleged lapse on the final was reported yesterday by Radar Online.
The exam in question consisted of two essay questions to be completed in 90 minutes any time during a 36-hour period.
Students who took the test early were instructed to avoid discussing the questions with those planning to take it later, but the warning was ignored.
One honorable young scholar got wind of what happened and blew the whistle, sources said.
Vice Dean David Klatell told students in an e-mail that there had been a “serious problem” with the final and ordered them to attend a special session of the class “Critical Issues in Journalism” today – or fail. via the New York Daily

Daily Commentary – Friday December 1st, 2006

Dana Pretzer in his morning update discusses

• Danny DiVito and Sex in the White House on the View

Putting his head where his heart is … Pat Pedraja, Boy in Florida With Leukemia Selling Ad Space On Head to Raise Money

Pay it forward with random acts of kindness … Putting your head where your heart is.

Pat Pedraja, an 11 year old boy in Florida who has leukemia certainly has his heart in the right place. Pat Pedraja is selling ad space on his head to raise money for the Bone Marrow Registry. The boy lost all his hair during chemotherapy treatments. Now Pat Pedraja wishes to help others in a rather unique way, selling ad space on his head.

VIDEO

“(Leukemia) treatment kicks my butt and it makes me feel sad,” Pedraja said. “But I want to be looking forward to something and knowing that I’m helping people.”

The sixth-grader said many people have visited his Web site but there have been no bidders.

“I hope that people start bidding on it now, before it ends Dec. 6 and that’s all I can hope for,” Pedraja said. “Bidding will not only help you by advertising, it will also help save a bunch of lives.” (Local 6)

We can certainly understand people’s hesitancy to buy ad space on the young boys head; however, this would be a great opportunity for people to donate during the “Season of Giving” to the Bone Marrow Registry  in Pat Pedraja’s name for the kind gesture that he is putting forth.

UPDATE I: Pat Pedraja now has bids

According to the latest eBay bids as of 12:12 AM on Friday the bids are up to $5100.00. We can only hope that those who are bidding are respectful and understand what Pat Pedraja is doing. Bill Gates where are you? Make a bid …

UPDATE II: Scroll down and check out Pat’s “Driving for Donors” plan.

VIDEO

Our plan is on May 15, 2007, I will begin DRIVING FOR DONORS!   My family and I are going to drive across the country in a special “Donormobile” .  We will host Bone Marrow donor drives and add potential donors to the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. Our goal is to add 2,007 NEW DONORS in 2007!

Suspect Hearing Case in Aruba Concludes … Joran Van der Sloot, Kalpoes & Security Guards Wait for Decision

According to sources in Aruba, the hearing to determine whether the suspects will continue to remain suspects is over. There has been no decision made yet and one will not be made until next week. The hearing, according to sources was for all five remaining suspects: Joran Van der Sloot, Deepak Kalpoe, Satish Kalpoe and the two security guards. What good reason is there to make an exception and take the primary suspects off a suspect list when by law the prosecutors have 2 years? Who does it serve? A lot can happen in six months, who is to say it won’t? So why do these three deserve to be an exception to the rule? Is that the precedent Aruba wishes to create? Or the perception they wish to put forth to the world?

Come to Aruba … disappear … never to be seen from again … and even though we have 2 years to prosecute suspects … we will let the last three people ever seen in your company off and not consider them suspects … why? Because we are Aruba and protect our own.

The hearing took place behind closed doors in front of Judge H.C. Smid, who is the judge that ruled previously on the same petition from the Kalpoe Brothers and Joran Van der Sloot, and denied their request. The media was not allowed in the court room during the proceedings. Why they make this any more clandestine and secretive than its been since the beginning is a mystery. Of course …why start now Aruba? Who would take Joran “fauxtograph” Van der Sloot off a suspect list? So what was the gist of the defense’s argument as to why they are seeking a ruling? One that actually makes no sense. How does the defense know or can know what the Prosecution will do in the future? Do the defense attorney’s have a magic 8 ball? Although one does begin to wonder if this is actually how decisions are made there.

We understand that the main argument of the defense is that the Prosecution has not, after a year and a half, presented its case in court. The defense doesn’t see any reason why the suspects should remain as such after that prolonged period of time.

How is it a prolonged period of time if the law states the prosecution has 2 years? One would think that with less than 6 months to go until they are taken off the suspect list as, what’s the hurray? If by Dutch law that can keep individuals as suspects for 2 years, then what’s the rush? Why have the guideline in place then? This is one of the most high profile cases and has major implications to Aruba and their perception as caring whether they take crime or investigations seriously.

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Anyone Have Buyers Remorse Yet? You get What you Elect … Democrats Reject Important 9/11 Panel Suggestion

Anyone with buyers remorse yet? Not that we didn’t tell you so … Democrats were saying anything to get elected and win back power. This goes way beyond a political white lie during an election.

All we heard in the run up up to the mid term elections from Democrats is that they would implement what the 9–11 Commission report  had suggested. They stated that George W. Bush resisted the suggestions and that they would implement them them all. We were not safer today than were were prior to 9–11.

“The Democrats pledged to implement all the remaining 9/11 reforms, not some of them,” said former representative Timothy J. Roemer (D-Ind.), who served on the commission

Isn’t it amazing what an election win can do and once one has the power. Suddenly all promises go by the wayside. I believe Nancy Pelosi also stated that this would be the most ethical and scandal free Congress. Just say anything Nancy and worry about it later. Don’t hold your breathe, they are certainly not off to a good start on the ethical part. However, as QandO states, Promises, promises.

It was a solemn pledge, repeated by Democratic leaders and candidates over and over: If elected to the majority in Congress, Democrats would implement all of the recommendations of the bipartisan commission that examined the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

But with control of Congress now secured, Democratic leaders have decided for now against implementing the one measure that would affect them most directly: a wholesale reorganization of Congress to improve oversight and funding of the nation’s intelligence agencies. Instead, Democratic leaders may create a panel to look at the issue and produce recommendations, according to congressional aides and lawmakers.

Because plans for implementing the commission’s recommendations are still fluid, Democratic officials would not speak for the record. But aides on the House and Senate appropriations, armed services and intelligence committees confirmed this week that a reorganization of Congress would not be part of the package of homeland-security changes up for passage in the “first 100 hours” of the Democratic Congress. (Washington Post)

Who is surprised? Not Wake up America, they would like a show of hands.