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Jewish World Review August 21, 1998 / 29 Menachem-Av, 5758
Jonathan S. Tobin
I'll leave it to colleagues elsewhere in the media to rake over the disgrace
that has been heaped on the American presidency. Bill Clinton may be the
most sanctimonious liar in this fair republic, but he isn't the only one.
This is also a year of notorious media liars: Mike Barnicle and Patricia
Smith of the Boston Globe, Stephen Glass of The New Republic and Peter Arnett of
CNN.
Unfortunately, these lies are seen not just as aberrations but as indicative
of a lowering of standards in the media. That's why it is no surprise that
nowadays journalists rate about as low in the public's opinion as
politicians.
Too many people seem to think that their good intentions and important work
ought to give them a free pass when it comes to telling the truth. Too many
journalists -- like Mr. Clinton -- seem to think that the attention their
story will focus on an important issue outweighs their obligation to getting
the story right. And when caught, they act as if it is priggishness or bad
taste on the part of their critics to force them to account for their
misdeeds.
Jewish newspapers are in a particularly tough position. Like everyone else
in the media, we are expected to give our readers an honest and thorough
account of the news as well as putting it in perspective via commentary and opinion.
Yet, Jewish papers are subject to pressures that are different from those
that other journalists face.
Jewish newspapers are asked to not merely report the Jewish news but often
to promote Jewish organizations and causes. Even more to the point, we are
sometimes asked to protect them as well from the consequences of their own
folly. That's because of our special position in our community which we want
desperately to nurture. We can't afford to be cavalier or indifferent to the
question of whether American Jewish survives in a time when that is an open
question.
A recent controversy at a respected Jewish weekly in a major city led some
there to conclude that its public did not really regard it as a newspaper at all.
In the past year, my own newspaper, the Connecticut Jewish Ledger has
reported on some stories which were troublesome. The closing down under troubling
circumstances of Camp Chaya in Litchfield County, financial troubles at New
Haven Hebrew Day School and the resignation of the longtime director of
Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford were all important news which our
readers had a right to know about and which we had an obligation to report on.
Yet, in each case some in the community — including influential leaders —
did their best to keep it out of the paper so as to spare some embarrassment and
to protect the future of the institutions involved.
The recent controversy over the anti-Zionist statements made by the
president
of the Hartford Seminary also led to a situation where some communal leaders
were upset that unflinching and honest commentary on the issues might
embarrass some local Jewish institutions and leaders.
The case of New Haven Hebrew Day was particularly agonizing as we not only
editorially support the day school movement but also believe that this
particular school is an excellent institution. We were faced with real
arguments about whether reporting the problem would have a negative impact
on
the school's future.
Personal appeals which pulled at the heartstrings as well as the conscience
of
the editor made that a particularly difficult decision.
But the outcome was never really in doubt. Our readers have a right to know.
If communal institutions are having problems or there are issues which need
to
be addressed, there is no place for them to go but the Jewish newspaper.
Moreover, we reasoned that there is no better way to rally support for
institutions that need help than to inform the public about the problem.
In each of these cases, we published, but did so as fairly as possible,
putting the story in perspective and reporting efforts under way which might
solve the problem in question.
Some precepts were easy to apply such as "You shall not go about as a
talebearer," (Leviticus 19:16). Others, such as the prohibition against
shaming a Jew are not quite so easy since they are balanced by precepts such
the religious duty to rebuke a fellow Jew for improper behavior.
But when one considers the obligation, "You shall not stand idly by the
blood of your neighbor," the second clause to Leviticus 19:16, one can see a
paradigm for Jewish journalism emerging. Moreover, the prohibition against
leaving obstacles or hindrances on public or private property (so as to
prevent injury to the public) presents a clear and present need for reliable
forums of public information.
That's why I think Jewish newspapers are so important and why we at the
Ledger remain dedicated to maintaining it as a free and open forum of news and
opinion. It will remain a journal which values and which always will do its
best to tell its readers the truth. That is a value that people of faith
still respect and one which true journalists will never abandon no matter what
pressures might be
Is 'Jewish journalism'
an oxymoron?
IN A WEEK DOMINATED by a hair-splitting presidential confession and
mega-spin by politicians of all stripes, each of us have had to come face to face with
the fact that truth is a rare commodity in our body politic.
Just as Mr. Clinton lied, those famous journalists fabricated stories
and then fibbed about what they did. And they, like the president, are sorry
they got caught and would very much like everyone else to change the subject.
But the truth still matters. We in the newspaper business have a duty to
seek it and should worry when it is flouted in such a flagrant manner.
Decline in standards and expectations
Yet my worry isn't so much about my profession's reputation, but the general
decline in standards of honesty in society that these incidents represent.
The prospect that people like the president or columnist Barnicle will succeed
in getting away with their lies without paying a serious price doesn't bother
me so much as the idea that the importance of telling the truth is being
devalued. The supporters of Barnicle and Clinton seem to be saying, "So they
lied. So what?"
Jewish journalism under siege
At the majority of Jewish papers around the country, this isn't even an
issue. Most are owned by Jewish groups like Federations which exercise varying
levels of editorial control which can in some cases preclude objective reporting or
publishing a wide variety of opinions. No wonder most Jewish newspapers have
long been known as "weaklies." Some also suppress minority views on issues
because they conflict with the prevailing wisdom of community leaders.
Confronting the facts and our conscience
This meant we had to think about our responsibility not only as journalists
but as Jews who have a stake in the survival of our community. In each case,
we went through a process which led us to walk through the story
painstakingly, examining and re-examining the facts and our reasons for
publishing.
A paradigm for Jewish journalism
That experience led us to re-examine what Jewish sources tell us about the
obligations of a journalist. In a recent lively lunch n'learn study session, the
Ledger's editorial staff talked about what the Torah says.
JWR contributor Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. He was
the recipient of the American Jewish Press Association highest award: First
Place in The Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary and Editorial
Writing. The Rapoport award is named for the longtime editor of the
Jerusalem Post and was given to Mr. Tobin at the AJPA's 1997 Simon Rockower Awards dinner
in Cleveland on June 18, 1998.
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