[July 27, 2011] : Media Management Expert Says News Corp. Scandal A Wake-Up Call For Journalism, Journalists Tweet Jul 27, 2011 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- With calls for congressional hearings into British media conglomerate News Corp.'s American media outlets and alleged phone hacking of victims of 9/11, a Kansas State University media management expert predicts journalists will feel the effects. "The major effect of this scandal is a loss of credibility to the profession of journalism, even if no one is found guilty in the U.S.," said Angela Powers, professor and director of K-State's A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications. "Journalism credibility has been in a state of crisis for a number of years. This does not help the situation." The News Corp. scandal, which includes allegations of cellphone hacking and other illicit means of gathering information by journalists, is an opportunity to examine how journalism is being taught and practiced today, and points to a need for discussions on media ethics in newsrooms across the nation, Powers said. "I hope students as well as practicing journalists will learn that breaking the law is not worth getting information," she said. "In this case, the ends did not justify the means." The News Corp. scandal differs from other recent journalism scandals in that it involved the advocacy of senior officials in the organization. More recent scandals have involved the actions of a single journalist, such as New York Times reporter Jayson Blair, who was fired in 2003 when it was discovered he had plagiarized numerous stories from other sources and fabricated information. Powers says most journalists at News Corp were probably unaware of the unethical methods being used to gather information. "Only a few at the top could have known of the practice or were authorized to break the law," she said. "Otherwise, it would have become common knowledge sooner." Restoring public trust in journalism is essential, according to Powers. "Future managers need to have journalistic backgrounds and understand the tenants of journalism," she said. "News of the World managers involved in these allegations could not have understood the importance of public trust, otherwise they would never have advocated or practiced such behavior." Source: Angela Powers, 785-532-3963, [email protected] http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/powersbio.html News release prepared by: Tyler Sharp, 785-532-2535, [email protected] ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected]. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]