> http://www.australian-news.com.au/codethics.htm
>
> Have had an incident non aviation related concerning a young & keen
> Journo over here .
>
> Good person in base terms but still wet behind the ears very keen and
> ambitious . Which led the jourmo into a dreadful trap of zeal
> exceeding checking the facts .
>
> Some how I got dragged into the bunfight as a sort of mediator between
> the injured party and the journos senior management .
> Upon auditing every thing it came down that the journo was led by
> another party (who would profit by certain negatives ) No money
> changed hands to the journo but a combination of pillow talk and
> malicious hearsay damaged another party .
>
> The code of ethics came into the matrix and poor Journo was really
> set up and believed the hearsay and for her unfortunately wrote it up
> as an informed and VERIFIED source . Which upon the simple
> examination was later proved false.
>
> What was coming over loud and clear from others in the craft was the
> ideal of "in the public interest"
> The matter came down to two simple tests
>
> Did you check the allegations in any manner or form ? Did you take
> steps to contact the other side for comment before publishing ?
>
> Answer to both tests was NO ." I felt it my duty to report in the
> public interest"
>
> The next line of "discussion" went along . Do you think it is in the
> public interest to be a vehicle for spreading falsehoods and
> innuendo ?
>
> Answer -- (this floored me) Yes if it is in the public interest .
> At this time discussion was white boarded with key indicators from
> the industry code of ethics .
> Happily after arrangement of meetings including lawyers every oen
> kissed and made up and one budding journo I would say is now wiser and
> even more dedicated .
>
> But it proves that be it an airline or any other vocation or
> business checks and balances (or even a simple business statement)
> must be implanted in new staff .
>
> The problem is if the older staff are too busy or trust the
> subordinates a tad too much real and potentially damaging problems
> can and do arrise.
>
> What does this parable have to do with Aus aviation?
>
> well perhaps given the latest Qantas and industry bashing. A seminar
> where industry invites Journos along
> and get the message of how teh airline industry operates and casa
> reps also and nip this style of reporting in the bud . I see only
> winners where zeal can be tempered by teh granting of tools or
> sources with which to check before going and looking out for the
> public interests .
>
> If the practitioners are deficient then so will be the readers
> because the raw and true data is flawed .
>
> Steps off soap box
>
> For discussion ( in the context of what has the aviation industry
> done or intends to do about a situation that appears to irk many of
> us )
> P