Discussion on Journalism Values
During a recent conversation, former ABC News correspondent Terry Moran spoke with Steve Schmidt, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, about the importance of journalists attributing “values” to their reporting. This discussion took place after Moran’s dismissal from ABC News in June, following a controversial post that he claimed expressed his views on the media landscape.
Moran emphasized that journalists need to address moral values in their coverage, stating, “The world is filled with good and wrong, love and hate.” He argued that if journalists can’t recognize these values, then they fail to engage meaningfully in their work. He pointed out that merely collecting a paycheck is not the same as doing the job well.
Moreover, he asserted that journalists aren’t required to prioritize fairness above all and should not sacrifice their own perspectives. “You have to be fair and accurate,” he explained, recalling an interview with Donald Trump that he had conducted. His stance raises questions about the balance between objectivity and personal viewpoint in journalism.
An ABC spokesperson responded to Moran’s remarks, reiterating the network’s dedication to objectivity and professionalism in reporting. This statement came amid criticisms from Moran, who suggested that many mainstream media outlets, including ABC, are plagued by a lack of diverse perspectives. He noted, “We were biased? Yes. Almost careless, I say,” suggesting that this lack of diversity impacts overall news coverage.
Moran pointed out that support for Trump has been limited within the network, highlighting how this can distort the portrayal of various issues. This uneven coverage was made evident again during a recent debate, where moderators faced criticism for their handling of Trump compared to former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Ultimately, the conversation revealed deeper challenges in the journalism field, illustrating the complexities of maintaining integrity while navigating personal beliefs and institutional biases.
