Michigan's Probation: Journalistic Ethics Trumped By Aggressive Business Climate

It wasn’t one of my better days.  Just leaving my three o’clock journalism class, the walk down State Street towards Michigan football practice was filled with anticipation. Head Coach Bo Schembechler had recently closed practice, claiming that an Ohio State photographer was seen filming from an apartment across the street.

My instincts told me that journalists, especially at a state supported university, could not be prevented for doing their job by the juvenile behavior of a hot-headed football coach.   We assumed that we were protected by the first amendment of the United States Constitution.

The plan was to walk through the gate and do my job as usual: talk to trainers, check on injuries and chat with coaches.

Two student managers thought otherwise and made an attempt to escort me out.

Eventually they gave up, and it wasn’t until I headed into the locker room that the fun began.

Apparently, Bo wasn’t amused as he catapulted me through both outside doors. (Over the years, our relationship improved considerably). 

United Press International saw the whole thing and had a neat practice story. I was summoned into the Ann Arbor News Managing Editor’s office.

In no uncertain terms, I was the one at fault. The Ann Arbor News and the university had this tidy commercial relationship, and they weren’t going to let the practice of journalism get in the way of making money.

Practice, Practice

Some 35 years later, an area newspaper reported that six Michigan football players recalled practice sessions that far exceeded time limits set by the NCAA.

The accusations were made just a week before the 2009 season opener vs. Western Michigan.

The NCAA saw fit to hold an investigation into the charges. The process created a dark cloud over the Michigan program and many believed the penalties would be harsh. Rodriguez, whose job was already in jeopardy for his team’s win-loss record—was labeled a cheater by many.

It took 14 long months, but the NCAA finished completed its investigation last week.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon, who’s only been on the job since January, turned an ugly situation into a positive one. As it played out, Michigan barely exceeded practice time limits and the NCAA assessed only minor penalties.  Michigan received three years probation and a reduction of practice time. Rodriguez, who was accused of a “failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance,” was found “guilty of a lesser charge” and his only punishment will be his attendance at a seminar (and a public scolding).

The NCAA investigators decided the unidentified players were mistaken. The newspaper most likely failed to research the story properly before publishing it.

Brandon has a similar opinion. “The article quoted several unnamed sources and extracted several quotes from several named individuals that were made at different times and in many cases completely different contexts,” he said during last week’s press conference.

“We strongly believe that a detailed and thorough investigation would prove these allegations to be false and misleading, and based on our internal investigation and the extensive investigation conducted and now completed by the NCAA, this important issue has been addressed.”

Below are the Society of Professional Journalist’s Code of Ethics:  

Seek Truth and Report It:

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

• Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
• Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
• Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
• Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises. 
• Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context. 
• Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
• Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
• Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
• Never plagiarize.
• Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
• Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
• Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
• Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
• Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
• Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context. 
• Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
• Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.