We Need to Rescue Journalism The stalking presence of journalists on celebrity crime scenes is disturbing professionals and provokes encouragement

of ethical production and reception. Dr. Tim Blackmore a professor of Western!s "#T department demanded $We!ve got to rescue journalism.% Justice entertainment has become a media genre and sharp perspectives are needed to delete it. #t is one thing to enjoy mug shot media and another to critici&e it but the truth is celebrity mishaps are overly accessible. '(Ne)s has a $mug shot of the day % and T"* has galleries of them. The )ebsite $smokinggun.com% provides the ultimate catalogue+ ,-. of the images are organi&ed by celebrity features for the reader!s interest. /am Worthington is the most recent addition to the mug shot database. 0ast "onday the 1+ list actor )as arrested and charged for disorderly conduct. 1lcohol into2ication is an accomplice in most of the recent arrests but entertainment journalists prioriti&e opinion of celebrity behaviour before providing factual conse3uences. #n "ay -45- /haun White an athletic icon to the 6lympic and sno)board community )as chased and arrested after a bystander reported White to police. /ome

fans have developed a rela2ed attitude regarding athletic celebrities

especially

sno)boarders )ho laughed at hearing the ne)s. The police photo depicts the rider )ith his famous red hair tied back and )ith an eye s)ollen and bruised. 6n any )eb search the mug shot stands apart from the usual gold medals and girls on White. 1nother incident )hich could have been deadly involves celebrity chef 7at 7ora. The #ron 7hef failed several breathaly&ers and )as charged )ith a D8# in June. 9rom these photos the public learns mug shots are no longer e2clusive to )ealthy conglomerate heirs or drug+dependent musicians. /eeing the athletic and culinary celebrities in the police photos a 8W6 business student commented $#t makes me feel better that celebrities make the same mistakes )e do.% To the massive audience criminal behaviour has not only become acceptable but pleasurable. This is also )hy celebrity arrests rarely include grave statistics associated )ith the crime. 9or e2ample you )on!t see an online article including 7ora!s offence )ith "1DD!/ conservative estimate )hich reported - .:. fatalities in 7anada resulted from D8#!s. The delusional relationship bet)een audience and celebrity develops partly because of the hasty delivery of information. Reporters nab police reports faster than handcuffs can be snapped on )rists. "oment!s later mug shots and blogs bla&e across the )eb. 1 false familiarity is probed )hen a stranger!s life is e2amined ;the moment it happens< rather than becoming naturally kno)n. 1nother d)indling responsibility of media= catch up to technology!s ability of rapidly sending messages to a large audience. Dr. Blackmore suggests $#t!s not a celebrity issue it!s an everybody issue it!s a justice issue that goes across the board.% Dr. Blackmore kno)s the )heels of media no longer turn for information but income.

Detective+7onstable "ichael 1rntfield )ho also holds a doctorate in media studies e2plains celebrities detained serve a specific purpose in the 8./. in fact any criminal is subject to public humiliation as he illustrates )ith the >perp )alk!= a strategi&ed event organi&ed bet)een the media and police. The >perp )alk! ;short for perpetrator< is a )ay for police to sho) the public they are essentially doing their job. #t seems the days of hard+hitting journalism are far behind us but

that doesn!t stop professionals from asking 3uestions and promoting change. Dr. Blackmore emphasi&es the need for sympathetic reports regarding celebrity arrests. $? We are going to do dumb stuff. /o )e!ve got to think before )e fire on people and )e tend to take our o)n frustrations in our lives on complete strangers.% Dr. Blackmore!s plea for mercy stems from the facts of technology. Dr. Blackmore is not e2cusing celebrities of their crimes but rather resents the )ay they are being presented to the public as it is= uncritical )riters reporting to a massive and uncontrolled audience. The implications of idols behind bars re3uire the utmost understanding before anyone should vie) it as entertainment or even acceptable. Dr. 1rtnfield e2plains $#n 7anada The #dentification of 7riminals 1ct sets out strict guidelines for )hen a prisoner can have a mug shot taken and the 7riminal 7ode has even stricter provisions regarding )hat circumstances )ould )arrant public release of an in+custody photographs. These strict rules and the lack of a celebrity system in 7anada and by e2tension the lack of a celebrity scandal rag market make the T"* phenomenon a largely 8./.+based and regulated phenomenon.% #t is an accepted practice and the societal demand to creep into the lives of strangers determines everyone is meat in this market. The judicial system is responsible for allo)ing access and the media is

responsible for )hat they produce. The reader also has a responsibility and it is an ethical challenge for everyone. Dr. Blackmore states= $@ave some shame. /ho) some conscience. #f you )ouldn!t )ant your kid thro)n up in front of ,4 million people if you don!t )ant your kid to be the ne2t 1manda Todd then don!t engage in this behaviour. We can!t forgive it. There!s a serious problem )e have here.% 1ll )e need is some sympathetic conversation bet)een reporter to reader and parent to child. We have an audience that one minute mourns the death of a stranger and the ne2t )atches their se2 tape. This relationship must cease for it does not e2ist. Dr. Blackmore believes $'verybody )ho!s been burned should be )riting and people )ho haven!t been burned shouldn!t be )riting.% What a difference it )ould make if only those )ho had e2perienced the death of a D8# reported on one. What a difference it )ould make if the online community )ere seen just as harmful as television or maga&ines or for the audience to see a human mistake alongside human commentary. These changes )ould put a )edge in the cogs of the media economyA it is unacceptable but all the more ethical. (A super special thanks to Dr. Tim Blackmore and Detective-Constable, Dr. Michael Arntfield for their insight on this issue .