Blair Powell
bp174005@ohio.edu
After watching movies such as “Shattered Glass,” the biopic of Stephen Glass, one can only begin to wonder why it is that journalist such as Stephen Glass and Jayson Blair do what they do. Why do journalists make up the facts, create stories, or plagiarize? Is it the pressure to be perfect? Is it the success of journalism that leads people to strive to win awards and have their name known by all?
In a world of Walter Cronkites and Tom Brokaws, pressure mounts for young journalists. Is the pressure to succeed and be a famous journalist what pushes seemingly good professionals to cheat, lie and steal? It is, obviously, unethical, to make up facts or to plagiarize. No one doubts that fact. But in a world where we demand the news now and in multiple forms, how can we expect good journalism to take place?
Today's society demands more than good journalism. We want perfection, but we do not give the journalists the time to ensure accuracy. But it is more than that. Young journalists are entering a world where competition is key. It is not enough to be good. We must be great. We must be known by all. We must win awards. This is where people like Stephen Glass and Jayson Blair can succeed. They crave the attention and they need to succeed.
So who is really at fault? Is it the papers and magazines that let countless cases of sloppy journalism slip through the cracks? Is it the journalism schools? Or is it society. Do we push people to succeed and to be the best, at any cost? Stephen Glass was successful, until he was caught. As was Jayson Blair.
Success is one thing, but when ethics are thrown out the window in pursuit of awards and accolades, failure is not just an option, it becomes the only option.
The following video is an interview of Stephen Glass on CNN.
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