PRESS
RELEASE
Contact: John Gatti JR
March 8,
2012
MASSACHUSETTS WHISTLEBLOWER
CALLS ON THE MEDIA TO ADOPT MODERN CODES OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT DURING NATIONAL
SUNSHINE WEEK MARCH 11-17 TO GET STUMBULLED “SHIELD LAW” LEGISLATION AND MORE
TRANSPARENCY REFORMS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE-The MEDIA MUST GIVE CONFIDENCE
THESE TOOLS IN THEIR HANDS WILL NOT BE ABUSED.
John Gatti Jr,
Architect of, the Massachusetts Public Employee Law Calls stated, “For years
Massachusetts Legislation for a Strong Shield Law and enhanced protections to
provide proper protections for Reporters and Citizens honestly reporting
improprieties has languished. The Media has not done enough to give confidence
that these tools in their hands would not be abused. A strong Media Code of
Ethics and Code of Conduct is needed to further help passage of this
law”.
March 11-17 National
Sunshine Week is the ideal time to move forward for the Media to act. This
yearly national initiative includes those from the news media with interested
groups and entities along with many other individuals interested in open
government operations. The goal of the initiative is to promote discussions and
dialogues on Freedom of information by advocating Open and Transparent
Government Operations.
Significant challenges were seen in 2010 to the
first amendment and free speech by Massachusetts local governments functioning
in their operations. Some Governments adhered to promoting transparency for
their citizenry served. Others continued old ways lacking openness. Government
entities must sincerely strive to follow the intent and spirit of the new Open
Meeting State Law placed in the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General.
Many local governments are still failing knowingly or unknowingly or using
cursory approaches avoiding the intent of the legislative mandate at
Transparency and Openness.
The goals and objectives of National Sunshine Week
are most important to Freedom of the Press and transparency for all government
and private operations.
There are challenges Newspapers, Broadcasters, and all in
the Media because of the industry downsizing economic turmoil of recent years
coupled with new technologies of the Social Media. This makes traditional
reporting as we have known especially investigative reporting quite difficult
due to severe budgetary and revenue constraints. This has resulted in the
downsizing of media and newspaper coverage of government meetings and operations
often limiting the Public Right to Know.
The traditional role of the editorial page has changed.
Reporters do not have adequate time to properly research and report the news as
formerly existed. This leaves parts of the news or having proper different
researched positions or facts by Citizens being left out. This results in
government appointed and elected officials having continuous Press Access most
times without proper verification obtaining their positions
published.
Newspapers, Broadcast, and Social Media management must
consider adopting a stated modern Code of Ethics for their entities. Further, I
advocate the same standard for Reporter Associations Current Editors, Reporters,
and new hires to pledge to a stated Code of Conduct and accepted Journalism
Behavior.
The traditional place for biased views and columns of
various perspectives is still the Editorial Page. Media reporters that compile
the news at all levels must be objective, fair, and unbiased and not
subjectively discriminate which views to report without proper verification.
This is an opportunity for all Media by adopting a
stated Modern Code of Ethics and Reporters Code of Conduct to be a model for
others lacking in the Print, Broadcast, and Social Media during National
Sunshine Week as well as well as for the readership and listeners going forward.
An Ethics and Conduct Code by all in the Media would stop the continuous attacks
by critics and help passage of a much needed “ Massachusetts Shield Law” and
other Transparency Reforms.
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