Journalism School Probes Possible Cheating on Ethics Exam

Washington Post ^ | December 3, 2006 | Robin Shulman

[Zakeet]

NEW YORK -- It was an ethics exam in a journalism class, and someone may have cheated.

Ironic? Yes. Unfortunate? Certainly. But what made the incident particularly notable was where and when it took place: at Columbia University, one of the premier journalism schools in the country, at a time when media ethics are much in question.

On Friday, Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism convened a meeting to discuss misconduct in the final exam for the required ethics course "Critical Issues in Journalism."

But the school was so wary of making specific accusations that, afterward, it was not even clear what misconduct had taken place.

Students had been given a 48-hour period to sign onto a Columbia Web site to take the final exam. They then had 90 minutes to answer two essay questions.

But at least one student reported cheating to the school's administrators -- without giving any names, said students who attended the meeting.

[Zakeet]

This story is a hoot.

Among other things, we have a story where the media itself has become the news, concerning unsubstantiated rumors (true to form), from a blogger (no better source these days), who provides no evidence (do we need any these days), involving a journalism ethics (is there even such a thing ) test, given over the internet (saving trees, but creating an exam that is impossible to monitor).

Some students have their panties in a wad over the alleged cheating incident, while others are praising the episode for having "provided them with the best practical education they could have wanted."

There are also some other great quotes such as, "'If people did cheat, it makes me really angry,' (Jack Gillum, 23) added, noting that he pays much of his $43,422 yearly tuition and fees by himself and does not want his degree to be devalued." And, "There's kind of a palpable fear: What's going to happen when you go for a job interview?" said Caroline Preston, 26."

In my humble opinion, this one article does a better job of summing up issues concerning the journalism "profession" than any other 10 stories combined.

[Bonaparte]

What on Earth does ethics have to do with journalism?

[Lurker]

Students had been given a 48-hour period to sign onto a Columbia Web site to take the final exam. They then had 90 minutes to answer two essay questions.

Just shaking my head....

L

[nathanbedford]

It was an ethics exam in a journalism class, and someone may have cheated.

What is this a new Washington Post puzzle, how many oxymorons can you identify in this sentence ?

[wodinoneeye]

Journalism curriculums have ethics classes these days???

You would think that they didnt have ANY for the last 30 years.


BTW, It just occurred to me that since leftists like to play with the definitions of words, that their use of 'ethics' might not be anything like what we think it is......

[goldstategop]

Journalism has as much as character as the world's oldest profession. Come to think of it hookers and journalists do have one thing in common: they prositute themselves to the highest bidder.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

I listened to Rush talking about this issue on Friday. Appropriately he pointed out that in "leaking classified information" (giving the exam question to others who had not yet taken the test), the students were just doing what professional journalist do these days to earn Pulitzer Prizes. Rush said (in his typical wonderfully sarcastic manner) that the students who did the "leaking" should earn A's as they were already able to exhibited the traits of a professional journalist.

[Plains Drifter]

Big Ping for you!!

[sgtbono2002]

Theres no ethics in Journalism.

The first question on the journalism exam is : Would you stab your mother in the back for a story?

[GnuHere]

I can't believe she said "palpable fear".
I guess she passed Drama 101 with flying colors.

[metmom]

Cheating at a journalism school? Who'da thunk?

[Republicanprofessor]

Education ping.

Let McVey, JamesP81, or me know if you want on or off this education ping list.

[jimfree]

This is my favorite story of the year. Will the MSM/DBM pump this story? I don't think so.

[jimfree]

And this is at one of the very elite J schools.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

That was a long time ago. AP and CBS were the Gold Standards of news.

[CFC__VRWC]

Certainly. But what made the incident particularly notable was where and when it took place: at Columbia University, one of the premier journalism schools in the country, at a time when media ethics are much in question.

"Premier journalism school" - isn't that a fancy way of saying King Sh!t of Turd Mountain?

[FreePaul]

In Journalism School cheating on an ethics exam is a requirement for graduation, isn't it? Surely the current crop of "Journalists" didn't develop that skill after they got out of school.

[GSlob]

"What on Earth does ethics have to do with journalism?"
There is a requirement that ethics be absent from journalism, that's what it has to do with it. Beyond this - nothing.

[GSlob]

"how many oxymorons can you identify in this sentence ?"
The only two words which must be true are "cheated" and "and". All the others, OTOH...

[Plains Drifter]

Ethics/journalism don't we have some sort of oxymoron going on here?