03-01-2011, 05:57 PM
Grace62 wrote:
I'm not getting the rather creative use of the word "clinical" here Ted, since we're not talking about treating patients.
I get what you are saying, but the use of "clinical" is not all that creative. Dictionary "clinical":
1. pertaining to a clinic.
2. concerned with or based on actual observation and treatment of disease in patients rather than experimentation or theory.
3. extremely objective and realistic; dispassionately analytic; unemotionally critical: She regarded him with clinical detachment.
Grace62 wrote:
Anyway, there already exists a "Socity of Professional Journalists" and they have a published code of ethics. At the heart of that code is thoroughness and honesty...
"SPJ Code of Ethics
Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice."
That sounds good, but I don't see where there's any teeth to it. Is there any consequence if the journalists do not live up to the code?
Grace62 wrote: We also have the First Amendment, thank goodness. This is a blessing but it requires of the public a great deal of critical thinking to sort through all the opinionated blathering, some of it masquerading as journalism. I don't see any way to make this easier for people, nor would I want to.
Nothing I presented in the OP works against the First Amendment, I don't see why that is relevant. Sure, critical thinking is desirable (as a science teacher of gifted kids I stressed that a LOT), but there are other important areas of our lives where we depend on certificated people rather than having to rely on our own critical thinking skills. I could use my critical thinking skills to do my income taxes but I rely on a CPA to do them for me. Not everyone has the time or inclination to use critical thinking in certain areas of their lives. Why not make it easier to find objective information?