Following a screening and discussion of the film Good Night and Good Luck, which documents news journalist Edward R. Murrow’s fight with Senate demagogue Joseph McCarthy, some students in Stephen Ambra’s Contemporary Ethical Issues class – a class I was invited to participate in – were asked to read a copy of Murrow’s famous “wires and lights” speech and examine if his words remain...

The fireworks from last Thursday’s Republican debate in South Carolina did not start with a candidate, but came, instead, from CNN moderator John King. KING: As you know, your ex-wife gave an interview to ABC News and another interview with The Washington Post… In it, she says that you came to her in 1999, at a time when you were...

Why is it okay for network television to broadcast expletives in the Steven Spielberg movie, Saving Private Ryan, but wrong to broadcast expletives from Cher at an awards show broadcast? Why is it okay for the FCC to object to nudity in an episode of NYPD Blue, but not in airing nudity from another Spielberg classic, Schindler’s List? These are just some...

It’s Tuesday May 23, 2006 and I’ve just arrived at my hotel. After traveling all day from California, I’m in New York to give a report to the public via the media on Honesty and Trust in America. In the Spring of 2006, with a host of ethics scandals involving CEOs, politicians, athletes and other celebrities you might think that my...

Most Sunday evenings, I tune in to watch 60 Minutes. The stories are relevant, fascinating and always newsworthy. Near the end of each show, one of a company of reporters would come out of commercial break and introduce the final member of the team with these familiar words, “…and now, a few minutes with Andy Rooney.” Thus, would begin a witty...

Writer Arlen Faber is a god. After authoring the global phenomenon, Me and God, everyone and their grandmother wants answers to the great unanswered questions in life. The problem is world famous (J.K. Rowling famous) Arlen doesn’t want to talk to anyone. Well, that’s not entirely correct. Arlen is a perennial misanthrope… Okay, he’s an a#$&hole who only begins to think...

That was the advice given to Bob Woodward by secret sourceDeep Throat regarding the journalist’s investigation into the Watergate scandal, a scandal that ended with the resignation of a president. That was also the underlying scrutiny in a series of questions asked by a member of England’s Parliamentary committee looking into a scandal that, not unlike Watergate, began with one incident...

Before the verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial was announced, HLN’s Nancy Grace, lawyer and host of her own show, has been banging the drums loudly for almost three years regarding the absolute, undeniable guilt of this woman. Before I go any further, let me say that this commentary is not about the guilt or innocence of Ms. Anthony. It’s...

We interrupt our special Fourth of July commentary for this TMZ Exclusive: Jim Lichtman, ‘Renowned’ Ethics Specialist, is Lost! Lichtman was last seen giving Mel Gibson advice outside an L.A. eatery (see photo) around June 14th. Sources close to the writer confirmed that in spite of his work with the “ethically challenged,” Lichtman was reported to have spent the entire month of...

To borrow an expression from Glenn Beck, Ed Schultz has “a big, fat mouth.” The left-wing talker suspended himself from his own MSNBC show after calling conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham a “right-wing slut” on his radio program. On the Wednesday night edition of his MSNBC show, Schultz began with an apology to Ingraham, MSNBC, his own family and...