New York Times Public Editor Clark Hoyt recently discussed the issue of anonymous sources used in news stories.  He characterized the use of such sources as both “the lifeblood and bane of journalism.” On the “lifeblood” side we have the Pentagon Papers and Watergate – two significant stories that quite possibly might not have seen the light of newsprint and...

The CBS news show “60 Minutes” ran two compelling stories last Sunday (May 4).  I’m not sure if the producers were aware just how similar, yet ethically different the first two stories were. Both segments talked about mistakes that were made.  Both discussed the tragic, personal costs of those mistakes.  However, that is where one story took a “right” turn....

Dick Capen’s career is a unique blend of newspaper publishing and diplomacy. After leaving as publisher and chairman of The Miami Herald, Capen served as the United States Ambassador to Spain and Assistant Secretary of Defense. Known for his commitment to personal values and a positive approach to life, he is a nationally recognized columnist, author, and speaker on contemporary...

Moral relativists won’t lose any sleep over this one. Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Errol Morris (“The Fog of War,” “The Thin Blue Line”) has apparently pulled off another controversial winner with his new film “Standard Operating Procedure” which examines the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq at the hands of our own military. This time, however Morris got a...