Nenc-why
Expert comment on why we need news councils
Why do news organizations and the public need news councils? The Washington (State) News Council assembled some wisdom on this topic and it is provided below.
HODDING CARTER, former President, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation: “In a time when public disenchantment with the news media grows stronger by the day, news councils offer a way out . . . Newscouncils provide a non-judicial forum; they let the people know that the press does not suffer from delusions of infallibility; and they reaffirm the primacy of the First Amendment, but reestablish the imperative need for public trust. What has worked so well in Minnesota for 35 years can and should be applied to other states and regions.”
BILL MOYERS, President, Public Affairs Television and former publisher Long Island Newsday: “I was pleased to hear about the Washington News Council. Those of us in journalism have much to gain and nothing to fear from your dedication to making sure citizens get a hearing when they think we have been egregiously unfair . . . What makes this society unique is the capacity for self-correction that lies at the heart of democracy. Nary an institution is beyond criticism or accountability, not even the press . . . We journalists should welcome an organization like yours that provides our readers and listeners a sense that they have somewhere to go when there’s no one at home upstairs who any longer cares whether the community trusts its journalists or not. Finally, if even lawyers recognize the value of ethics committees, surely we journalists can tolerate a news council to keep us on our toes.”
GENE ROBERTS, former Managing Editor, The New York Times, and former Executive Editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer: “The experience of the Minnesota News Council argues forcefully for further experi-mentation in other states as a way of increasing media openness and credibility.”
JIM LEHRER, Host, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, PBS: “News councils can help the profession of journalism. I don’t know what journalists are afraid of. They hide behind the First Amendment and say no one can criticize their work. That’s nonsense. That’s not what the First Amendment says. Journalists want to criticize what everybody else does, but when someone wants to criticize them they object. That’s hypocritical. We all need constructive criticism. I support news councils on one condition: That they don’t have any enforcement powers. They shouldn’t be able to order the media to do anything. But to hold the media up to public discussion and hold them accountable is fine. That’s healthy. The public exposure and feedback are good for journalism. Journalists should welcome this.”
GENEVA OVERHOLSER, Syndicated Columnist, The Washington Post Writers Group and professor University of Missouri School of Journalism: “We can ill afford to pass up any decent opportunity to hold ourselves accountable, and to help the public understand all that we do to uphold our principles and to get our facts straight . . . I have seen how hard it is to get most of us in the media to embrace any kind of accountability – and how ready we are to come up with objections when opportunities do arise.”
WALKER LUNDY, former Editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press: “I have come to be a big supporter of the Minnesota News Council. On page 2A, every day, we invite readers to contact the News Council if they don’t get justice from us. How can we not be a part of something that can serve as a public antidote to media arrogance? These days, journalists can use all the help we can get.”
MORRIS KURTZ, Athletic Director, St. Cloud (MN) State University: “I brought two complaints to the Minnesota News Council in seven years and lost both decisions to the St. Cloud Times. But the News Council process is great because the newspaper had twice denied me an opportunity to state my point of view in anews story, and the News Council gave it to me. Now that it’s all out in the open, the public can decidewhether the newspaper was fair or not."
GLENN LEDBETTER, Real-estate agent, Mercer Island, WA: “I am 100% convinced that The Seattle Times would have done absolutely nothing were it not for the existence of the Washington News Council andhad I not chosen to stand up for myself by filing a complaint . . . I am profoundly grateful to the council.”
AL NEUHARTH, Founder, USA Today: “I applaud you and your associates for what you’re doing — or trying to do — with the Washington News Council.”
JEFFREY DVORKIN, former NPR Ombudsman: “There is a tremendous hunger in this country for accountability in journalism."
