This story details the controversy surrounding the Sacramento Library's security chief, James Mayle. Mayle, whose wife runs two companies who were billed for extensive library maintenance, is being audited. While the subject matter is of public concern the ethical matter at hand is whether or not the Sacramento Bee should have dug into records. It is reported by the Bee that "the library called for the probe after The Bee submitted a public records act request in May to inspect the company's records". After this request was submitted it was discovered that the library maintenance director was also involved in the controversy. While it was believed that Mayle and his wife were running the scam it's been discovered that Dennis Nilsson, the director, was the one directing the bills to Mayle's wife instead of the library, as is customary.
I believe that as a journalist one has every right to venture into an area that is of public concern. While it is controversial as to whether or not it was necessary to bring embarrassing matters to the attention of the public, I believe it is necessary. It is a journalist’s responsibility to report to the public what is going on under their nose. Many believe that the Bee should have allowed matters to come into light at their own time, but I disagree. When a reporter finds a lead that can potentially bring about a positive outcome, in this case less money being billed to taxpayers for unaccomplished work, they should report on it, no matter the embarrassment it brings to the community.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
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18 comments:
I agree that if newspapers are not going to push the limits and test how ethical a corporation is being that most likely nobody will. They needed to dig deeper so that this issue, and the taxpayers money, would not be put off for five months. Although there is the question of truth to a story The Bee should have investigated the issue more. The public has a right to know what is going on and it is the job of journalisms to inform them what is going on behind the scenes.
A news reporters job is to dig for the truth, is it not? Just like the Watergate incident, if it wasn't for the two reporters digging to expose the truth regarding the late President Nixon, there could have been a change in history. I am not trying to say that this is as epic as Watergate, but it is digging for something that is pertinent to the public, especially for the local public of Sacramento.
I think that the Bee was completely in the right for digging into public records. The records are meant to be public, and there's no reason that reporters shouldn't be allowed to look through them. Even if it means that the reporter is going to break a story--as embarrassing to the parties involved--the public has a right to know. Without the probe and release of information, we as taxpayers would continue to pay way too much. I don't think the Bee should be criticized in any way for digging through the records.
Reporters and Journalists have the ethical duty to report the news. Everyone should be held accountable for his or her wrong doing. In the case of the library employees,the taxpayers dollars were being stolen and the taxpayers need to be made aware of it.
It is very unfortunate that an investigative reporter had to discover this incedent and not the State Controller's office. I agree with Amanda as this is a public concern.
I believe that the journalist did the right thing. It's a reporter's job to inform the public of what is going on under their nose, especially when it concerns the public as much as this story did. In my opinion, the need of the public to know what was happening was the most important thing.
I believe it is a Journalists job to report to news and the truth. Though the Sac Bee has uncovered some humilating information, it is still the news. The Public deserves to know where their tax money is going. Especially if it's of wrong doing. It's important that Journalists dig up the dirt and expose the story for what it is, which is stealing.
The Bee had every right to dig into library records. The library is a public entity supported by our tax dollars, so its spending should always be closely audited. Journalists need access to these records to inform the public where their tax dollars are going (or wasted). Journalists act as public watchdogs, especially on issues of tax spending. If the Bee had not uncovered this story, it may still be going on and citizens continue to be exploited.
I completely agree with you in believing that those public records should have been accessed. I would like to know why I am paying higher taxes, and if that means digging into public records and putting a criminal on the spot, then so be it. I also feel that since this man worked in a field that is considered public, then the records of that field should also be open to the public for review. From what I could collect, it is not as if the journalist investigated deep into the man's personal life, he simply reviewed records and exposed the man and his wife for what they were.
I completely agree with you in believing that those public records should have been accessed. I would like to know why I am paying higher taxes, and if that means digging into public records and putting a criminal on the spot, then so be it. I also feel that since this man worked in a field that is considered public, then the records of that field should also be open to the public for review. From what I could collect, it is not as if the journalist investigated deep into the man's personal life, he simply reviewed records and exposed the man and his wife for what they were.
I agree that it is important for newspapers and reporters to push the limits. If it had not been for the investigative reporting, taxpayers would have over paid for work that was never done. Matters like this should not wait to be released.
I do agree that investigating the truth is necessary and think it was ethical for the Sacramento Bee to dig into the public records. If it's leading us to the truth then so be it. We are in our right to know what is happening in our public libraries. I also agree with Amanda that this is a public concern.
Is it not a reporter's job to report the truth? I think the Bee was completely right to dig through public records to encover the truth especially when the incident has to do with taxpayers money. Public records are PUBLIC for a reason.
I believe the reporter did not go against any ethical conflict. It is the reporter's job to educate the readers on current events and not hold back any information. We, as taxpayers, had a right to know what was going on, and this story did have a particular interest. To get a good story you must dig deep, and that is what the reporter did. That is what reporters are paid to do.
I totally agree that the reporter did the right service to the public by bringing the controversy to light. This incident directly affected the public; it would have been their tax money going to some scam. It may have been embarrassing that people are now stealing money through local libraries, but the information still needs to be in the public eye. It would be a more suspicious thing if it were kept from the public. The issue being in the news may also serve as a lesson to any other criminals that may be thinking of doing similar deeds, they’ll always get caught.
I belive that the Bee was correct in reporting this story. Its a newspaper job to dig deeper to get to the information that people need to know and if it entails breaking down a corporation that has been misusing appropriated funds I am all for it because we have a right to know.
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