Spitzer Ethics

With the NY Governor's scandel commanding center stage the last few weeks, the media outlets reporting on it are quite numerous. These stories are sure to gain attention, and the Wall Street Journal's Kimberly A. Strassel does just this in an op-ed piece as "she accuses the 'adoring' and 'compliant' press of acting 'as an adjunct of Spitzer power, rather than a skeptic of it.'"

However, according to Jack Shafer of Slate, Strassel's article is far from perfect and, "like most press critics who hunt with a blunderbuss, Strassel is low on specifics." He notes several inconsistencies and facts she neglicted in her article, but perhaps the most troubling is her use of anonymous sources:

"Strassel's press critique neglects to name the favorite reporters to whom he 'doled out scoops' and 'who repaid him with allegiance.' The publications that 'buried inside' the news that would embarrass the prosecutor also go unnamed. She claims that news organizations (unnamed, in the interest of consistency, I suppose) 'that dared to criticize him' found themselves 'cut off.'"

What publications? What reporters? And according to Shafer, what evidence?

"To make the case that the press serviced Spitzer, Strassel needs to do more than shake her bloody burlap bag as evidence."

Whoa. Maybe Strassel should have quickly glanced through the Kidder model before posting her piece, because there are obviously those who believe it would have failed the facts level. I'm not sure what I believe, but Shafer does make an interesting case.

**Note**
I'm currently on Spring Break and unfortunately the old computer my parents own has an older version of Safari that won't allow me to edit formating or place links, as well as spell check and more. I will fix all of this when I return to good old Simpson College tomorrow (this is due tonight at midnight). Until then, the links are posted below. Thanks!

"Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberly A. Strassel thinks the press serviced Eliot Spitzer by Jack Shafer"/ Slate Magazine:
http://www.slate.com/id/2186549/

"Spitzber's Media Enablers" / WSJ.com:
http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB120528114453028807.html