Credibility Lost

As if any of us need another lesson on the importance of credibility, along comes the scandal involving Rupert Murdoch's media empire. At this point, it would be difficult to find any one not familiar with this still-growing scandal. It began with reporters working for the "News of the World" who apparently into hacked the telephones of a number of people. Even though "News of the World" has been closed down, people are beginning to be arrested and Murdoch himself has had to testify before the British Parliament, the melody of the unscrupulous behavior of many of those who were on the Murdoch payroll lingers on.

One point that has struck me about this media mess is that apparently many people, including men and women in positions of authority and influence, were aware that a number of the "News of the World" reporters did not carry out their jobs in an ethical manner on a regular basis. Though these men and women, many of whom are elected officials, would grumble about it from time to time and occasionally allude to it in public settings, the so-called work ethic of various reporters was tolerated and allowed to continue. It took the incident in which the reporters were found to have hacked into the telephone answering machine of a missing girl (later found to be dead) and then erased her messages to become public to make it safe for these same authorities to finally speak out forcefully against what had been going on.

Yes, the culture within "News of the World" was one of journalistic permissiveness. But the culture surrounding what went on in that media outlet was just as corrupt. Those on the outside looking in knew what was happening and they chose to look the other way. Thus, they, too, share in the responsibility for what transpired. It is no surprise, then, that the general public is reacting with such outrage and is especially challenging the credibility of those who they thought were looking out for their best interests. Everyone in this giant mess is now tainted and for good reason. Credibility is not to be taken lightly. Once lost, is it ever truly regained?