Brian Williams and Time Out
Brian Williams of NBC has apologized for greatly exaggerating what happened to him during a helicopter ride in Iraq during 2003. I'm not sure about the ethics of stories you tell about your self, but it seems absolutely clear to me that reporters and their reports should not become the story. He is reportedly taking some time off.
I think that the "media" in its rush to report something that will catch our interest may go beyond just the facts to make stories more readable, watchable, or listenable. This can be good reporting because telling a story is better than just numbers, horrific pictures, or crime reporting.
Being the news anchor for anything means credibility first and foremost. Getting the story right and covering all sides of the story trumps speed and stories may need to be followed and followed up.
In this case I can think of nothing to be gained by Williams' exaggeration of the danger of being a reporter on the front lines in any armed conflict. Too many journalists are being killed, kidnapped, and injured for you to self report after the fact that you too were under fire to join the club of front line reporters. I can understand his wanting to feel like he was in the trenches, taking fire, "in harms way". But if it did not happen, to make up a story that it did to be more credible, is to invite something more professionally damaging than getting your head blown off.
If NBC/Universal says off with his head for this classic screw up, which they may be forced to do, journalism students everywhere should take notice.
I think that the "media" in its rush to report something that will catch our interest may go beyond just the facts to make stories more readable, watchable, or listenable. This can be good reporting because telling a story is better than just numbers, horrific pictures, or crime reporting.
Being the news anchor for anything means credibility first and foremost. Getting the story right and covering all sides of the story trumps speed and stories may need to be followed and followed up.
In this case I can think of nothing to be gained by Williams' exaggeration of the danger of being a reporter on the front lines in any armed conflict. Too many journalists are being killed, kidnapped, and injured for you to self report after the fact that you too were under fire to join the club of front line reporters. I can understand his wanting to feel like he was in the trenches, taking fire, "in harms way". But if it did not happen, to make up a story that it did to be more credible, is to invite something more professionally damaging than getting your head blown off.
If NBC/Universal says off with his head for this classic screw up, which they may be forced to do, journalism students everywhere should take notice.
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