Synopses & Reviews
- From one of the most prominent journalists of our time. Best known for the political column he wrote for the New York Times from 1966 until his retirement in 1991, Tom Wicker has covered a wide range of news events, from the failed Bay of Pigs invasion to the Gulf War. He has worked for numerous other newspapers over the years and has taught journalism as the visiting professor at Davidson College and Middle Tennessee State University. He has been a fellow at the First Amendment Center in Nashville and Joan Shorenstein Barone Center for Politics and Journalism at Harvard.
- A focus on the practice of journalistic ethics in the field. No single code can cover every ethical decision a reporter has to make. Instead, Wicker looks at the conditions surrounding individual decisions. He encourages students to ask themselves, "What is the responsible action in this situation?" By stressing the importance of individual responsibility and putting personal experience before rigid rules, On the Record gives students a blueprint for ethical journalism that is both practical and empowering.
- A solid core text or an engaging supplement. With its wide range of topics and inspirational behind the scenes stories, On the Record makes a prefect core text for any journalism ethics course. At the same time, its accessible approach and jargon-free style make it a suitable supplement for an introductory journalism course.
Synopsis
Award winning New York Times reporter Tom Wicker draws on his own experiences to fashion a compelling narrative that shows students how real reporters make tough ethical decisions. Avoiding rigid "do and don't" lists, On the Record teaches the underlying principles and practices of good journalism, and offers readers a unique and practical approach to negotiating the challenges reporters face every day.