Journalistic Standards in the Matt Drudge Era Essay -- Exploratory Ess

Journalistic Standards in the Matt hacker EraIntroductionPublic curse is at the heart of journalism. Such trust is built upon the credibility journalistic efforts. In the past, though mistakes have been made by even the most reputable of news providers, credibility was maintained and state-supported trust in the journalist industry was steady. However, with the Internet taking its first infant steps into the reporting world, concern is being vocalized that public trust in journalism will be damaged by mavericks, such as Matt Drudge, who, without any foundation in reporting seek to tell the intact world every little secret he can dig up. And hes been wrong. This paper will examine the debate surrounding online journalism, including a general look at journalistic standards and an account of Matt Drudges activities as an Internet investigative reporter. With the pressures of staying current with technology, news services drum to grab a piece of the Internet pie, but struggle to determine what the ethical standards should be and how public trust can be maintained in an environment where anyone with a computer and online capability can be a reporter.Review of LiteratureLet the future begin. These words closed Matt Drudges introduction during his June 2, 1998, address before the National Press Club. His topic Anyone with a modem can report on the world. Times argon changing and tralatitious journalism is finding it difficult to adapt. The Internet as a mass communications vehicle is challenging many accepted norms. Journalistic standards and ethics are among the most debated topics.Though Matt Drudge is certainly not the only person reporting online news in a method inconsistent with conventional st... ...99 24.Ryan, Leslie, In Drudge Era, Educators Make Case of J-Schools, Electronic Media, Vol. 17 (39) 1998 26-27.Sandberg, Jared, Call It the Drudgegate Affair, Newsweek, Vol. 134 (22) 1999 50.Snyder, Beth Kerwin, Ann Marie, Clintern Story Raises Is sues for Cyberjournalism, Advertising Age, Vol. 69 (5) 1998 32.Stevenson, Kerry, The Technology, Business, and Ethics of News, International Broadcast Engineer (IBE), Oct 1999 44.Swaine, Michael, Error-Correcting Journalism, Dr. Dobbs Journal Software Tools for the Professional Programmer, Issue 313, 2000 152.Webster, Nancy Coltun, Drudge Report, Advertising Age, Vol. 69 (26) 1998 S22.Weir, David, Web Journalism Crosses Many Traditional Lines, Nieman Reports, Vol. 54 (4) 2000 35-38.Wilson-Smith, Anthony, Whats New astir(predicate) the Web, Macleans, Vol. 113 (29) 2000 14.