Butterfield is Such a Card! Or is that Such a Tool?

Academic freedom, The National Enquirer and U
Issue date: 10/23/03 Section: Opinion

* Print
* Email
* Article Tools

*
Page 1 of 1

On Oct. 15, students in Craig Wirth's public relations class was so lucky as to have Alan Butterfield grace them with his presence. Butterfield was invited to provide a "Hollywood publicist" inside perspective to the class.

For those unfamiliar, Butterfield is a reporter for the National Enquirer-yes, the supermarket tabloid-and is the one who "broke" the gay sex-ring story about Ed Smart and several of his brothers. The story was based on information obtained from unnamed sources. Later it became known that some unnamed sources were paid $10,000 each. In the end, the information proved to be false and two reporters, Kevin Cantera and Michael Vigh of The Salt Lake Tribune, were fired due to their involvement in the fiasco.

Several professors in the department of communication were angered by Butterfield's visit, and rightly so.

There is no question as to the fundamental importance that freedom of thought and freedom of the press have. These liberties are basic tenets of our nation. Indeed, the United States relies heavily on the marketplace of ideas that results from the exercise of such liberties.

However, it is important that such liberties be placed into context and not be applied recklessly. The liberties afforded citizens in the Constitution are not given with an accompanying free license of application. Unfortunately, that seems to be the assumption made by Butterfield and many of his supporters.

Allowing Alan Butterfield to speak to a public relations class, and justifying such in the name of intellectual freedom, is analogous to The Wall Street Journal printing neo-Nazi manifestos in the name of freedom of the press. Just as The Wall Street Journal has a responsibility to print news and not destructive or inflammatory rhetoric, institutions of higher learning have the responsibility to teach students in a nondestructive manner.

Obviously, drawing the lines between what is and what is not destructive is an exercise in subjectivity, to say the least. Yet it does not seem appropriate to bring in a guest speaker who makes a living telling lies and exploiting people. The world of journalism needs to be built on integrity, not sensationalism.

Yes, tabloid journalism is part of the American journalistic landscape. But so are racism, sexism, classism and other deplorable ideologies. Needless to say, Larry Flynt will not be asked to speak to photography students, so why should Alan Butterfield speak to communication students?

**Compliments of Ticked.
~~~~~~~~

And here is one of the best posts of the day so far after a few reviewed both the January NE Article and the newest one:

TRUTH RULES said.....

".....This article calls into question the prior article's statement, quoted by stalkerboy, that Clay had already come out to his mother and close friends early in 2005.

I love it when one liar outs another liar."
~~~~~~~~

**I LURVE IT TOO. The new informant outs NE and Butterfield outs JP and we "OUTED" them all as liars months ago. To them all I would just say.... When Karma comes a knocking, bend over.