Announcing the 2005 Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism

Ancil Payne

Eugene, Oregon—At a time when studies show the credibility of the media in steady decline and sensational stories make headline news, there are journalists and news organizations whose ethical decision-making processes set new standards for the keepers of the public trust. The 2005 Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism will honor The Denver Post, freelance journalist Kevin Sites, and Arizona State’s independent student newspaper The State Press for exemplifying the highest standards of their profession in the face of political or economic pressures.

The 2005 winners will be honored in Eugene on Thursday, May 12 at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.

Ancil Payne, a legend in Seattle broadcasting, established the Payne Awards at the School of Journalism and Communication in 1999 to “to honor the journalist of integrity and character who reports with insight and clarity in the face of political or economic pressures and to reward performance that inspires public trust in the media.” Payne, who died in October 2004, was former CEO of KING Broadcasting; under his leadership, the company developed a national reputation for its commitment to ethical journalism.

The Post is being honored as the news organization winner for its handling of the Kobe Bryant rape case coverage and its detailed explanation of its decision—to uphold an existing policy and not name the alleged victim—to its readers. Competing newsrooms were using the woman’s name; the information was also available online, and the victim filed a civil suit that would identify her. In deciding the best ethical course, Post editors met with a sexual assault expert and a rape survivor, consulted with media experts, and held staff meetings to discuss the dilemma. In a note to readers published in the editorial section of the paper, the editors explained in detail the reasons behind their decision and policy. The Payne Awards judges noted that The Post’s decision-making process should serve as an example for other news organizations.

Kevin Sites, a freelance photojournalist for NBC and military pool reporter, is the Payne Awards’ professional winner for his “courage, deliberate thinking and outreach” after filming a U.S. soldier killing an unarmed Iraqi man. Sites, an experienced war reporter, shared the videotape with the military, then worked with NBC to create a well-nuanced story that aired 48 hours after the incident. As was required, the footage was also given to others in his pool. When he became a lightning rod for those reacting to the story and for foreign journalists using the footage without context, he responded by using a web blog (www.kevinsites.net) to explain his decision and its reasoning to the public.  The judges felt the blog and reactions to it added a new dimension to the story.

Arizona State University’s independent newspaper, The State Press, will receive the Collegiate Media Award. The paper’s choice of a graphic photo to illustrate a story about extreme body piercing prompted the university’s largest donor to protest to the president’s office. Faced with the administration’s reaction, the paper’s staff used an impressive process to examine its actions, make decisions, work with the administration, and explain its decisions to others. The Payne Awards judges noted the paper’s mature, thoughtful, step-by-step consideration was similar to its approach in deciding to use the photo.

Jon Leiberman, former Washington bureau chief of Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group’s news division, was fired for publicly criticizing his company’s plan to broadcast a program featuring a slanted view of then-Presidential candidate John Kerry’s actions during the Vietnam War less than two weeks before the election.  Sinclair staff are prohibited from discussing staff meetings publicly. Lieberman, who told The Baltimore Sun he violated the gag order for reasons of professional conscience, will receive a special professional citation.

“The Payne Awards judges were impressed by the number of nominations including fine examples of ethical decision making in the face of outside pressure,” says Tim Gleason, Edwin L. Artzt Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication. “In a time when news organizations are finding it necessary to produce exhaustive reports about the failings within their organizations, it is encouraging to see evidence of so many thoughtful, careful, ethical processes. The Payne Awards winners were the best examples of this. In each situation, their deliberative reviews created a strong ethical foundation for the decision and gave them confidence in their ultimate stances.”

Judges for the Payne Awards include Assistant Professor Wendy Wyatt Barger, University of St. Thomas; Professor Tom Bivins, John L. Hulteng Chair of Media Ethics, University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication; Joann Byrd, member of the Pulitzer Prize board and retired Editorial Page Editor, Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Aly Colón, Ethics Group Leader and Diversity Program Director, The Poynter Institute; Everette Dennis, Professor/Area Chair for Communications and Media Management and  Director for the Center for Communications at Fordham (New York) University’s Graduate School of Business; Tim Gleason, Edwin L. Artzt Dean and Professor, University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication; Larry Grossman, author and former president of NBC and PBS; and Mark Trahant, Editorial Page Editor, Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The awards event will be held Thursday, May 12, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chambers Electronic Media Center at the School of Journalism and Communication. The Ruhl Symposium for Ethics in Journalism will be held that afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Both are free and open to the public. More information about the Payne Awards, including a list of past winners, is available at payneawards.uoregon.edu.