American broadcast television networks have taken delight in reporting about the unprofessional journalistic practices of the British tabloid newspaper, News of the World. The actions of that “newspaper” are, indeed, egregious. But while the network anchors harrumph about the poor standards at a tabloid already well-known for its seedy practices, some introspection is in order for their own professional deficiencies.
A growing concern that needs serious ethical scrutiny is “checkbook journalism” at network television, the practice of news organizations paying sources for interviews. This practice has been frowned upon over the years, and for good reason. Paying sources suggests that the news is for sale. It disrupts the free flow of information that is essential in a democracy. Other news outlets get fenced out by the networks that pay for “exclusive” interviews. Whatever information is gleaned from a paid interview can come off as tainted, since the interviewee might well only be saying what the journalist is paying him to say.
Network executives try to cover up the practice by claiming they are paying for the licensing of photos or videos from a newsmaker, who then just happens to grant interviews after the sale. This sleight of hand doesn’t fool anybody and should not clear the consciences of network producers.
ABC News paid Meagan Broussard a reported $15,000 to license photos related to Rep. Anthony Weiner’s sexting scandal, and then Broussard conveniently granted ABC exclusive interviews. Roy Kronk, the meter reader who found Caylee Anthony’s body, was paid $15,000 for the photo of a rattlesnake found in the same woods and then showed up on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” It is hard to fault people who are thrust onto the news scene for trying to capitalize financially on their circumstances, but network news executives should be thinking about the professional standards of their industry.
ABC’s most questionable payment, of course, is the $200,000 paid in 2008 to the Casey Anthony family for use of photos and videos. That money was used for the legal defense of Anthony. So, while ABC is laying off reporters and closing news bureaus during a down economy, the network could afford to pay huge money for legal expenses of a woman who certainly is a very negligent parent, and perhaps worse. The prospect of the now-acquitted Casey getting more big cash for her first post-trial interview is chilling, but it could well happen.
ABC reporter Chris Cuomo tried to defend the practice of checkbook journalism recently on the CNN program “Reliable Sources.” He rationalized the payments to Broussard by saying, “It is the state of play now.” Basically, other news networks will pay for interviews if ABC doesn’t beat them to it. The everybody-else-is-doing-it argument doesn’t work for middle schoolers, and it isn’t acceptable for network journalists.
Cuomo correctly points out, however, that other networks have had their own problems with paying for interviews. NBC got a public scolding from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2009 for providing benefits to David Goldman, the father fighting a custody battle to get his son back from Brazil. NBC also put money in an educational trust fund of the high school girl in Washington state who had faked a pregnancy, then did an interview on the “Today” show.
The potential ethical damage of paying for interviews must now be on the minds of network reporters. On the recent (and ridiculous) nine-minute “Today” show interview of “Octomom” Nadya Suleman and her many kids, NBC anchor Ann Curry specifically pointed out that Suleman was not being paid for the interview. No mention, however, was made about money being exchanged for videos, accommodations or anything else.
ABC anchor Terry Moran sent out a Twitter message in advance of his interview with Juror No. 3 from the Anthony trial to deny that ABC was compensating the juror.
It is sad, indeed, that network news has entered a time when reporters feel compelled to indicate when sources are NOT being paid. It would be better if the reporters felt compelled to explain when the sources are, in fact, compensated, and how.
Jeffrey M. McCall is a professor of communication at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.
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