Issue date: 3/30/05 Section: Opinion

A few weeks ago, I attended a motivational lecture in the University Union Ballroom given by Ken Carter, whose life story was made famous in the movie "Coach Carter." It was a well-rehearsed hour of clever anecdotes and catchy sound bites, but one thing in particular struck me that day.

"Never ask a lazy person to do anything," Carter said. "They don't have time." Maybe I don't get out enough, but I thought that was pretty profound. Talking to reporters and editors at The State Hornet, I thought about that quote and realized how pertinent it is to this staff, and to college students in general. Not many people have more irons in the fire than students.

Part of the student experience is being involved with campus activities: student government, fraternities and sororities, sports, clubs and the student media. Hardly a definitive list, but it does show the breadth of activities available. It also opens up the possibility for a conflict of interest.

Student journalists are just that -- students, and it's a good bet that if they've made the commitment to journalism, they are likely also involved in other campus activities. Therein lies the rub; how do you balance the objectivity required of a journalist with the expectations and commitments that come with being involved in other student activities?

Normally when questions like this arise, I look to other papers to see how they handle the situation, the logical choice in our region being the Sacramento Bee. But it's hard to take a cue from the Bee when the situation is acutely relevant only to student journalists. A reporter at the Bee wouldn't dream of continuing as a writer while running for public office, nor would he or she be allowed to write articles about the hobbyist club he or she belongs to.

Unfortunately, it isn't that clear cut at a college paper. The students willing to take the time to be good journalists are usually the same ones taking the time to be involved in other student organizations. This leaves editors in a precarious position. Stories still need to be assigned and events need to be covered, and a reporter's outside affiliations bring another level of complexity to the already difficult process of newspaper publication.

Even if a reporter's work has been closely checked by the editorial staff and found to be entirely objective, it isn't enough. Journalists serve the public and are therefore subject to the perception of those they serve. If readers see even a hint of what they believe is a conflict of interest, they will question every fact in a story.

According to The State Hornet's code of ethics, reporters must "avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of such conflicts at all costs," as well as report any group affiliations immediately to the Editor-in-Chief. It is a policy that has not been adequately enforced in the recent past.

The argument proffered by editors is that reporters with ties to an organization have an advantage because they understand the issues involved and know who the major players are before making a single call for an interview. The rewards are palpable, but the inherent risks involved in heading down the slippery slope of rationalizing any conflict of interest are simply too great.

The onus is then put squarely on the editorial staff's shoulders. It's not reasonable to expect student journalists to devote themselves solely to the newspaper, though some do. Editors will have to be held responsible, and ultimately accountable, for determining potential and obvious conflicts of interest.

The fact is that quality journalism isn't always easy, and some shortcuts aren't worth the cost, especially when the currency involved is credibility. You can never have enough, but when you lose it, you may never get it back.

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Andy Jensen can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com

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