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Journalism schools teach students to hold back lest they lose access?
Not hold back, be careful. A very important distinction. Publishing it was the iffy part.
the problem is the use of unnecessary and gratuitious information about someone, information that does not directly contribute to a story. They could have reported that they found out the information.
And yes, at least when I was in college 15 years ago, I had plenty of reminders of ethics in journalism, including a class called such.
The real world of journalism wasn't as black and white, but then what real world is?
Do you think CNET did something unethical, DC? It seems that publishing information
*I*
can get my hands on is pretty non-intrusive. They didn't need sources, or to go through trash, or anything vaguely complex.
I don't fault them for thinking that the article would have more impact with the details in. They weren't blowing a cover, or anything.
I personally think Google is overreacting, but also I think Cnet could have done the story without publishing the man's home address.
If I can find someone's Social Security number with Google, does that give me the right to print it in a news story? No, that would clearly be out of the question. I guess it depends on where each side draws the line. I would have said in the story that I had found this, this, and this, leaving in a couple less important details for substance.
I am certainly mixed on the issue, and I agree that taking it out on the whole of Cnet is overboard. However, I'm not surprised. Maybe a little disappointed in Google management.
For that you cut off an entire organisation?
Nope. For doing it repeatedly, even after being asked not to, you cut off an entire organization.
For doing it repeatedly, even after being asked not to
They've been repeatedly printing personal details ... of various employees? You wouldn't happen to have links to the offending articles, would you? I'm very curious.
Nope. All I have is word of mouth.
In another topic entirely....
Podcasting from Spaaaaace.
I think they should've banned CNET on account of the fact that their site blows.
Yes, this. Not to mention what CNET did to mp3.com and tvtome.com.
seriously. who the fuck is behind it?
