Ethics and Exposing Corruption

Hearing the esteemed and highly acclaimed Gretchen Morgenson emphasize the importance of exposing corruption and unveiling the truth gives me hope for current and future journalistic writing.  As not only an editor and columnist for the New York Times but also a former writer for Forbes and Vogue magazines, she has a wealth of information which has undoubtedly shaped her writing style and philosophy.  

While learning about the contrast between writing for magazines and newspapers was certainly fascinating and edifying, what interested me most was her approach to writing about various facets of the economic downturn in the United States.  For instance, Ms. Morgenson was writing about the 2008 economic downturn as it was unfolding, and based upon her personal analysis given her economic background and data from various sources, she came to the conclusion that mortgage meltdowns constituted a central part of the subsequent economic crisis.  Apparently, her reasoning resulted in the government then discouraging her to write about the mortgages as they claimed they were a minor part of the financial downturn.  This response disturbed her because it indicated that either the government did not understand the large role these questionable mortgages played or did not want the truth publicized.  Similarly, when she analyzed the American International Group’s (A.I.G.) conflict with Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs objected to this unsavory portrayal, and the Federal Reserve actually came to Goldman Sachs’ defense.  Despite this opposition in both of these cases, Morgenson was undeterred, and it seems other reporters for the New York Times echo her sentiment of the importance of revealing corruption around the world.  Even as recently as today, Simon Romero examines the current vote-buying scheme in Brazil in his article entitled “Brazilian Corruption Case Raises Hope for Judicial System.”  

As Jim Willis mentions in The Mind of a Journalist, her mindset is not unusual as there are numerous ethical codes in various journalistic organizations, and journalists are often referred to as being a part of a “professional priesthood.”  However, what distinguishes Ms. Morgenson and those journalists like unto her are the unshakeable courage and determination to stick to moral principles and provide society with truthful and accurate information.  Although Ms. Morgenson has written about numerous corruptions, it is important to note that she does not by any means parasitically seek out such unsavory stories.   Rather, she is fulfilling her duty as a writer and a citizen to unmask and halt these harmful or secretive activities.