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SPJ Supports Sinclair Washington Bureau Chief's Courageous Stand


10/21/2004

CONTACT:
Irwin L. Gratz, President, (207)874-6570 or
igratz@spj.org

Gary Hill, Ethics Committee Chairman, (651)642-4437 or
ghill@kstp.com

Fred Brown, Ethics Committee Co-Chairman, (303)755-0395 or
ethicalfred@aol.com

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists today expressed it
support for Jon Leiberman for having the courage to stand up to his employer
’s questionable ethics. Leiberman, Washington Bureau Chief for Sinclair
Broadcasting, questioned a company-wide order to broadcast a report highly
critical of John Kerry just days before the presidential election. He was
fired after his comments were printed in The Baltimore Sun without prior
approval.

Leiberman was responding to reports Sinclair Broadcasting Group planned to
require 60 of its 62 stations across the nation to carry “Stolen Honor:
Wounds That Never Heal.” The documentary is highly critical of Democratic
Presidential Candidate John Kerry. The company Tuesday backed away from that
plan, saying it would air a one-hour program on the use of documentaries to
influence political campaigns on only 40 of its stations.

Sinclair’s entire approach to this broadcast has been in question since word
of it leaked out a couple of weeks ago. Multiple news media reports
indicated the initial decision to air the broadcast was made by ownership
rather than by news personnel even though ownership decided to label it as a
news broadcast. Sinclair ownership has contributed heavily and lopsidedly to
Republican causes in recent years. The decision also is certain to renew
calls for restrictions against the concentration of media ownership.
Sinclair’s ownership cuts across network affiliate lines and has the
potential of reaching about one fourth of the American public.

Leiberman had worked for Sinclair for almost five years. The Los Angeles
Times reported that he wasn’t protesting Sinclair’s decision to air the
program - just its plan to label it as news.

“I would have preferred that they did it in the context of an editorial or a
commentary or a programming special, but to call this news and to put this
under the guise of a news program, in my opinion, is wrong,” he said.

Leiberman was right to blow the whistle. The SPJ Code of Ethics calls on
journalists to:

* Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary
should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.

* Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media. Admit
mistakes and correct them promptly.

* Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.

Jon Leiberman may have lost his job, but he has gained the respect of
ethical journalists everywhere who understand the importance of their
independence and their responsibility to put the public first.

http://www.spj.org/news.asp?ref=393


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The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect
journalism. SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism
and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma
Delta Chi, and based in Indianapolis, SPJ promotes the free flow of
information vital to a well-informed public, works to inspire and educate
the next generation of journalists, and protects First Amendment guarantees
of freedom of speech and press.

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