Why leave journalism for PR when you can do both?According to the New York Times, Dan Abrams, chief legal correspondent for NBC, plans to breed the two professions together in hopes of creating a new and profitable species. The hybrid journalist/blogger/consultant would advise and conduct media training and investigations for corporate clients.
Despite the inherent conflicts of interest and ethical issues, Abrams says he will do his best to avoid conflicts and ethical issues:
Working on media strategies with businesses could raise ethical red flags for journalists who were required to be detached and objective about the subjects they covered. Mr. Abrams said the company would “bend over backwards to make sure that there are no conflicts or ethical issues that arise.”*UPDATE: The publisher of the Longmont (CO) Times-Call has proposed a little cross-breeding program of his own: journalist-valets (via Romenesko).
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1 comment:
This is no surprise. When I got into journalism school, I had this utopian, naive view of the profession only a youngster can have - uncover the truth, make a difference, etc.
As I got my degree and joined "the real world," I realized that there is no objectivity...you're always trying to please (or not piss off) somebody - your boss, mainly, but also a sponsor, a certain section of your readership, your government, etc, etc.
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