Conflict of Interest in the Media
By Syed Kamran Hashmi
Westfield, IN
Seriously, how can someone claim to conduct a ‘neutral’ political talk show when he is an active member of a political party? It is like having an umpire in cricket who plays for the opposing team. Surprised by this notion of neutrality, if you raised an objection, do you know what they are going to tell you? Don't pay attention to who is the analyst, just focus on his analysis. Now that is a bizarre logic which somehow approves a blatant conflict of interest (COI).
Let me first give you a basic definition of COI. It is summarized as “ any situation in which an individual or corporation (either private or governmental) is in a position to exploit a professional or official capacity in some way for their personal or corporate benefit.”
Keeping that definition of COI in mind, everyone can tell the opinion of these experts is an eyewash even when it is embellished with the clips from New York Times or The Guardian and even when their assessment is draped with book references and true historic events. However, if it is done for a longtime, I admit, it can work to befool a lot of people. All they have to do is to just keep on garnishing the main of entree of truth with little fabrications here and there, which they do very well in these “serious assessments.” I wonder, once the camera lights have been turned off, if they laugh at us more or sympathize more on our credulity.
Similarly, can you trust the opinion of a journalist who first applies for the ticket of a political party to contest in the general elections, and then writes against the same party upon refusal? Or rely upon the views of an anchor person who co-hosts an ‘unbiased and balanced’ program with a partner who was a spokesman of a former dictator? Or consider the political stance of a newspaper columnist who joins the cabinet of government? To me and many others, this is like asking a suspect of a criminal trial to become a member of the jury. Can you agree with the verdict of such a person? Probably not, but in real life this is what is going on in our media, the pillar of state that was supposed to show the mirror to the society and bring accountability in the state institutions; instead in that process, it has become so corrupted from top to bottom that it needs a mirror itself to evaluate its actions.
No, my assertion is not that the program hosts should not have an opinion; they must carry their own views because without having one they can’t conduct an entertaining show. However, if there is an interest beyond the scope of the program it should be disclosed. Just like a physician who, if paid by a drug company to promote one of their new medicines, has the ethical responsibility to disclose that information before his lecture. It does not mean his speech would be substandard or less informative. For sure, it would be educational and helpful, yet it cannot, in any case be considered neutral. The first objective of the company through that discussion, as we all understand, is to promote the product and that aim is never overlooked.
Sure, politicians too, have the right to become political commentators like anyone else; and yes, they can conduct their own shows. I just think, in that case too, a proper and complete disclaimer is necessary. In the United States too, many politicians have become media experts. Mike Huckabee, for instance, the former governor of Arkansas who also attempted to win the nomination of the Republican Party for 2008 presidential election, had started his own program on Fox News. Yet, neither Fox News nor the former governor has the reputation of being ‘fair and balanced!’ While continuing to host his program, there are rumors that in 2016 again he may attempt to win the party nomination. I find no objection to that since the motives, the contracts, the political inclination and loyalties are in public knowledge from day one.
The reverse scenario is true as well, where journalists have joined the political administration and have accepted official positions. Nonetheless, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), one of the oldest organizations of journalists, does not approve of their actions. This is how they have put forward their recommendations:
“The SPJ Ethics Committee gets a significant number of questions about whether journalists should engage in political activity. The simplest answer is: “No.” Don’t do it. Don’t get involved. Don’t contribute money, don’t work in a campaign, don’t lobby, and especially, don’t run for office yourself.”
Later on, it advises them on COI as follows:
“Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Remain free of associations that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.”
For me, credibility is like a mirror that once damaged remains always damaged even if we glue all the pieces together. So, why risk it? The answer is simple: Credibility is just not that important for many analysts since it does not provide luxury vehicles or million dollar homes!
Other than providing professional guidance on these moral and ethical issues, one of the core mission of SPJ, is to ensure the freedom of speech and promote diversity. So, how do we ensure that? I believe it can only be achieved through a neutral and comprehensive debate, where all the points of views from all factions are taken into account, a real debate in which criticism is heard as strongly as appreciation or may be more. But, under the disguise of freedom, we do not want to promote a culture of fake debate in which, one anchor person has served on the national television under the political government and leaves the office to conduct a program against the same administration while the other host, in many cases, is a renowned turncoat and is still an active member of the political party in opposition.
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