What is investigative journalism?
Investigative journalism consists of finding and telling a
story, usually one that is trying to be hid.
Lowell Bergman, producer of 60 Minutes, is portrayed as an excellent
investigative journalist. One that would do anything to expose the story he is
going after. During the film, he says, “You pay me to get guys like Wigand; to
draw him out; to get him to trust us; to get him to go on television. I do. I
deliver them. He sits, he talks.”
Bergman’s excellence in his job is the first thing we see in
the film, during his conversation with the Sheikh.
(0:20-2:10)
The skill of Bergman's journalistic nature shown in this scene sets up the viewer to expect nothing less than for him to get the interview later on with Wigand. We see Bergman portrayed as a head-strong, penetrating journalist with an eye for stories that need to be told. During the film, he hires Wigand to help with a separate project, but senses that there is more to this man's story.
The Society of Professional Journalist’s Code of Ethics
states, “Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering
information except when traditional open methods will not yield information
vital to the public.” In The Insider, Bergman finds a way to get around Wigand's legal barriers in order to fully tell the story. When CBS announced that they would be playing an edited version of the 60 Minutes interview with Wigand, Bergman fights for the story that he believes will change the tobacco industry forever.
(0:30-3:55)
In this clip, Bergman comments on the fact that this story is newsworthy, but CBS will not air it. He exposes the faulty reasoning that the more truth is told, the more cause CBS has for not playing the interview. He questions the motives of his boss, asking him if he is a businessman or a newsman. Bergman upholds the idea that the people's right to know comes before corporate interests.
From Bergman's journalistic point of view, the story must be told fully if it is to be told at all. CBS has many other things to consider for programming, plus, a pending lawsuit holds them back from initially airing the full interview. Wigand chose to go public with his statement, and after his move forward, CBS followed up by playing the full, unedited interview. As a mainstream media outlet, was CBS justified in editing the interview that could do so much to change tobacco policies in the United States? This might be the most important media ethics question brought up during the film. If CBS had chosen to air the interview when it was originally planned, this story would be dramatically different. Brown & Williamson might have sued CBS for millions. There may have been more than just threats against the Wigand family. Still, there might have been a great reaction by the public, bringing down the seven major tobacco companies, not leaving them any room for retaliation.
Mainstream media created this story. Just as Professor Pease says in class, if no one is there to see it, did the tree really fall in the forest? Lowell Bergman's persistence in getting the story that Jeffrey Wigand was holding made the exposure of Brown & Williamson's health issues possible. Without the help of CBS, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post Jeff Wigand's story would not have been fully explored.
SPJ Code of Ethics
Through the freedoms given in the first amendment to the US Constitution, the press will never have congressional laws passed to limit their abilities. However, there needed to be a set of rules placed by the industry itself. The Society of Professional Journalists published a code of ethics to fill this need.
In The Insider, there is a heavy focus on journalistic values and privileges. The SPJ Code of Ethics is a code that is not mandatory for journalists, but is subscribed to by most of the major news networks. Following is an analysis of whether or not Bergman, Wallace, and CBS follow the statements in the SPJ Code of Ethics.
Seek Truth and Report it:
Bergman's job as a producer of 60 Minutes puts him in a position of constantly being on the watch for stories that need to be told. His integrity is not questioned throughout the film because in the opening sequence, Bergman says "you've seen 60 Minutes, and Mike Wallace, so you know our reputation for integrity and objectivity. You also know we are the highest rated, most respected TV/magazine/news show in America." Now the viewer believes that Bergman is seeking truth. During his argument with CBS, Bergman proves that he will do anything to report the truths he has found. According to this code of ethics, CBS's decision to cut the interview was unethical. They had a responsibility to air the truth, but they didn't meet that responsibility until later on.
Minimize Harm:
Many precautions were taken in order to keep Wigand from facing the repercussions of breaking his confidentiality agreement with Brown & Williamson. These protections were necessary according to the code of ethics. If 60 Minutes had aired Dr. Wigand's name or situation before the Mississippi deposition was released, Brown & Williamson would have had every right to sue Wigand and CBS for millions. Because the proper precautions were taken, however, the situation is completely ethical.
Act Independently:
The code of ethics says, "Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know." Throughout the movie, Bergman shows that he has an interest with the Wigand family. He appears friendly with Dr. Wigand's daughters, and during the following clip, he seems very invested in preserving the life of Wigand.
SPJ Code of Ethics
Through the freedoms given in the first amendment to the US Constitution, the press will never have congressional laws passed to limit their abilities. However, there needed to be a set of rules placed by the industry itself. The Society of Professional Journalists published a code of ethics to fill this need.
In The Insider, there is a heavy focus on journalistic values and privileges. The SPJ Code of Ethics is a code that is not mandatory for journalists, but is subscribed to by most of the major news networks. Following is an analysis of whether or not Bergman, Wallace, and CBS follow the statements in the SPJ Code of Ethics.
Seek Truth and Report it:
Bergman's job as a producer of 60 Minutes puts him in a position of constantly being on the watch for stories that need to be told. His integrity is not questioned throughout the film because in the opening sequence, Bergman says "you've seen 60 Minutes, and Mike Wallace, so you know our reputation for integrity and objectivity. You also know we are the highest rated, most respected TV/magazine/news show in America." Now the viewer believes that Bergman is seeking truth. During his argument with CBS, Bergman proves that he will do anything to report the truths he has found. According to this code of ethics, CBS's decision to cut the interview was unethical. They had a responsibility to air the truth, but they didn't meet that responsibility until later on.
Minimize Harm:
Many precautions were taken in order to keep Wigand from facing the repercussions of breaking his confidentiality agreement with Brown & Williamson. These protections were necessary according to the code of ethics. If 60 Minutes had aired Dr. Wigand's name or situation before the Mississippi deposition was released, Brown & Williamson would have had every right to sue Wigand and CBS for millions. Because the proper precautions were taken, however, the situation is completely ethical.
Act Independently:
Bergman does not have a conflict of interest, but he has become involved in the personal lives of those he is reporting about. Bergman might have allowed his personal involvement damage his credibility. At the end of the film, Bergman retires. Perhaps his knowledge of the code of ethics led his to know he had walked a fine line. According to the code, the ethical thing for Bergman do to was retire.
Be Accountable:
CBS was eventually held accountable to admit they had been wrong in playing an edited version of the interview, and they aired the full version. This is a crucial part of being a good news organization. Because CBS admitted to their mistake, they are still considered ethical.
Overall, the journalistic aspects of the film The Insider are mostly ethical, and when there is an issue with ethics, it is resolved in the proper way.
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