Indium Blog

Integrity In Journalism

Category:
  • B2B Marcom

  • There are a lot of discussions about lazy, unethical, or inaccurate journalism. There are, seemingly, too few mentions of people who do a good job. Here is a story of a B2B journalism team who made a minor error yet who stepped up in a major way.

    In my electronics assembly world we are blessed with many fine journalists. These are dedicated, hard working people who struggle to keep up with topics, trends, and organizations that, for the most part, strive to retain secrecy. Their jobs are both challenging and unglamorous. Yet, they remain energetic and optimistic.

    Recently a story hit our trade media. It was based on inferences, and a reference that is dubious. Several industry websites picked it up and put it forth. When comments (from a highly technical engineering audience) started coming in <here is an example> about the basis and validity of the article, the publisher of Circuitnet stepped up and posted this:
     

    Gentlemen, you have a good point. When we came across the article my interest was immediately peaked by the title. I realize there is not much in the story pointing to tin whiskers as the cause for some of Toyota's problem, but we decided to use the article.

    The original title is: "Electronic tin whiskers may be behind Toyota
    recalls." We often need to shorten article titles when we use them as
    the subject line for our email newsletter. We may have overdone it by
    changing the title to: "Tin Whiskers Behind Toyota Recalls."

    Thanks for your letter. We appreciate the feedback.

    Jeff Ferry
    Publisher
    Circuitnet

     

    I've always thought highly of the professionalism of Jeff and his entire Circuitnet team. His reaction, attitude, sense of responsibility, and integrity in this situation simply says it all. This one small case should be taught to journalism students everywhere - as an example of something that is HUGE. This is honesty, respect, dignity, and professionalism in action.