Avowal of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics

The Society of Professional Journalists has an ethics code that they’ve published on their website.

Over the next several months I will be publishing content under a category that is new to my website: Journalism.

Given that I self-publish a wide variety of content on my website – from reflections on technology, marketing, satire, poetry, etc. – I thought it appropriate to publicly avow that all of the content that I publish under this label will be within the ethical code described below.

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PREAMBLE

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity.

The Society declares these four principles as the foundation of ethical journalism and encourages their use in its practice by all people in all media.

SEEK TRUTH AND REPORT IT

Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it. Use original sources whenever possible.

Remember that neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy.
Provide context. Take special care not to misrepresent or oversimplify in promoting, previewing or summarizing a story.

Gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story.

Be cautious when making promises, but keep the promises they make.

Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.

Consider sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Reserve anonymity for sources who may face danger, retribution or other harm, and have information that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Explain why anonymity was granted.

Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond to criticism or allegations of wrongdoing.

Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information unless traditional, open methods will not yield information vital to the public.

Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. Give voice to the voiceless.

Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

Recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government. Seek to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open, and that public records are open to all.

Provide access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate.
Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience.

Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear.

Avoid stereotyping. Journalists should examine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.

Label advocacy and commentary.
Never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information.

Clearly label illustrations and re-enactments.

Never plagiarize. Always attribute.

MINIMIZE HARM

Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness.

Show compassion for those who may be affected by news coverage. Use heightened sensitivity when dealing with juveniles, victims of sex crimes, and sources or subjects who are inexperienced or unable to give consent. Consider cultural differences in approach and treatment.

Recognize that legal access to information differs from an ethical justification to publish or broadcast.

Realize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than public figures and others who seek power, influence or attention. Weigh the consequences of publishing or broadcasting personal information.

Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.
Balance a suspect’s right to a fair trial with the public’s right to know. Consider the implications of identifying criminal suspects before they face legal charges.

Consider the long-term implications of the extended reach and permanence of publication. Provide updated and more complete information as appropriate.

ACT INDEPENDENTLY

The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public.

Journalists should:

Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Disclose unavoidable conflicts.

Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid politi- cal and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.

Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; do not pay for access to news. Identify content provided by outside sources, whether paid or not.

Deny favored treatment to advertisers, donors or any other special interests, and resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage.

Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two. Prominently label sponsored content.

BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT

Ethical journalism means taking responsibility for one’s work and explaining one’s decisions to the public.

Journalists should:

Explain ethical choices and processes to audiences. Encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage and news content.

Respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness.
Acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently. Explain corrections and clarifications carefully and clearly.

Expose unethical conduct in journalism, including within their organizations.

Abide by the same high standards they expect of others.

Interview Data from “Translating Anarchy: The Anarchism of Occupy Wall Street”

Translating Anarchy: The Anarchism of Occupy Wall Street by Mark Bray is a first person account of the author’s experiences at the Zuccotti Park iteration Occupy Wall Street. In addition to description of events that he himself witnessed, he also includes selections from interviews he did with many of the people there.

Below is the List of OWS Organizers Interviewed

Aaron Black
Aaron Bornstein
Alexander Penley
Alexandre Carvalho
Amelia
Amelia Dunbar
Amin Husain
Amy
Andrew
Anthony!
Anthony Robledo
Ari Cowan
Ashley
Atiq Zabinski
Audrea Lim
Austin Guest
Axle
Bear Wisdom
Becky
Beka Economopoulos
Ben Reynoso
Beth Bogart
Betsy Catlin
Bill Dobbs
Bill Livsey
Bootz
Bre
Brendan Burke
Brett G.
Brittany Robinson
Camille Raneem
Cara
Cari Machet
Caroline Lewis
Cecily McMillan
Chris
Chris Longenecker
Christhian Diaz
Christine Crowther
Christopher Brown
CJ Holm
Colby Hopkins
Cory Thompson
Dana Balicki
Dave Haack
David Graeber
David Korn
Debra Thimmesch
Dennis Flores
Diego Ibañez
Doug Ferrari
Drew Hornbein
Dylan
Ed Mortimer
Edward Needham
Elizabeth Arce
Eric
Eric Carter
Ethan
Evan Wagner
Fanshen
Felix Riveria-Pitre
George Machado
Georgia
Goldi
Greg Horwitch
Guy Steward
Harrison ‘Tesoura’ Schultz,
Henry Harris (“Hambone”),
Ingrid Burrington
Isham Christie
Jack Boyle
Jackie Disalvo
Jake DeGroot
Jason Ahmadi
Jay
Jeff Smith
Jen Waller
Jerry Goralnick
Jez
Jillian Buckley
Jo Robin
Jonathan G.
Jonathan Smucker
José Martín (“Chepe”)
José Whelan
Josh Ehrenberg
Josh Lucy
Julien Harrison
Julieta Salgado
Justin Stone-Diaz
Justin Strekal
Justin Wedes
Justine Tunney
Kanene
Karanja Wa Gaçuça
Katie Davidson
Kira Annika
Kobi
Laura Durkay
Laura Gottesdiener
Lauren Digioia
Leina Bocar
Liesbeth Rapp
Linnea M. Palmer Paton
Lisa Fithian
Lorenzo Serna
Louis Jargow
Luke Richardson
Madeline Nelson
Malcolm Nokizaru
Malory Butler
Manissa Maharawal
Maria Porto “Sarge”
Mariano Muñoz-Elias
Marina Sitrin
Marisa Holmes
Mark Adams
Matt Presto
Max Berger
Megan Hayes
Michael Fix
Michael Levitin
Michael Premo
Mike Andrews
Moira Meltzer-Cohen
Moses
Nastaran Mohit
Negesti
Nelini Stamp
Nicholas “OWS Tea”
Nick Mirzoeff
Nicole Carty
Nina Mehta
Olivia
Pablo Benson
Pam Brown
Patricia González-Ramirez
Patrick Bruner
Pete Dutro
Priscilla Grim
Rami Shamir
Ravi Ahmad
Ray
Rebecca Manski
Richard Machado
Ronny Nuñez
Rose Bookbinder
Rowland Miller
S.
Sam Corbin
Sam Wood (“Captain”)
Sandra Nurse
Sara Zainab Bokhari
Sean McAlpin
Senia Barragan
Sergio Jimenez
Shane Gill
Shawn Carrié
Sofía Gallisa
Sonny Singh
Sparro Kennedy
Sparrow Ingersoll
Stacey Hessler
Stan
Stefan Fink
Stina Soderling
Sully Ross
Sumumba Sobukwe
Suzahn Ebrahimian
Tashy Endres
Terry
Tess Cohen
Thorin Caristo
Tim Fitzgerald
Timothy Eastman
Tom Hintze
Vanessa Zettler
Victoria Sobel
Will Gusakov
William Haywood Carey
William Jesse
William Scott
Winnie Wong
Winter
Yates McKee
Yoni Miller
Yotam Marom
Zak
Zak Soloman
Zoltán Glück
Zu Solanas

Dan Kovalik, Alliance for Global Justice and Venezuela’s Ministero del Poder Popular para la Cultura

Dan Kovalik with Daniel Ortega

Dan Kovalik is one of the intellectuals and activists that I’ve identified as being associated with Venezuela’s Kultural Marxism network as well as the Nicaragua Network founded by Daniel Ortega.

When I noticed that he was going to be giving what was described as a “Talk and Exchange” via a live video chat, I set a notification for myself in order to watch and ask some questions.

Verifying Authenticity and Logging On to the Network

The first thing that I do in order to access live feed described in this brief essay designed to enlighten the minds of its readers on the connections between Venezuela’s Intelligence Services and intellectuals and political activists in America was by logging on to Facebook.

One logs on by first pulling up their website on an internet browser or smartphone app. After I logged in to my account, the use of which is predicated upon Facebook’s terms and conditions, I pulled up the Alliance for Global Justice Facebook page and began to watch Dan Kovalik speak.

The preliminary speech was aligned with other not-very-insightful commentary that I’ve seen Abby Martin and other Venezuela-hands provide. I’d be curious to learn if they receive these talking points – which don’t seem to vary much – from their Venezuelan handlers or if they come up with them themselves. Anyway, after a while, he started to wind down and open for questions.

Questioning Dan Kovalik

It makes sense that those associated with Venezuela’s Intelligence Agencies would want to watch Dan Kovalik, after all, they need to make sure he doesn’t go off script.

My first question related to whether or not there was any sort of conflict of interest in Dan’s reporting – specifically if he had even been given money by the Venezuelan government or their associates. He never answered this question.

The second question, shown above, was a question related to discerning whether or not there was anything that could cause Kovalik to lose support for Maduro. As numerous charges have been brought up against Venezuelan government officials for narco-trafficking, corruption, political oppression and assassination – this seemed pretty relevant. He never answered this question.

The last question – hidden in the above so that I could provide evidence that a former member of Venezuela’s Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Cultura was watching the Facebook Live video – was in regards the limits of acceptable behavior for those in America who wanted to ensure that Nicolas Maduro’s grip on the Venezuelan state apparatus continued. As the Embassy Protection Collectives in Washington D.C. and New York were engaged in an illegal occupation; as there is a history of Venezuela’s political associates harassing American politicians; as Venezuela assists in the publication of content promoting the idea that violence against American police officers and assassination of American politicians is justifiable – I wondered what sort of behavior was considered “off limits”. He never answered this question.

 Grand Jury Investigation Using Only Publicly Available Evidence

I’m not terribly surprised that Dan Kovalik refused to answer any of these questions – on his public Facebook profile it is very evident that he identifies as a Nicaraguan revolutionary that would sooner face physical assault or incarceration than snitch on his comrades.

To me this seems yet another example of Orwellian Irony.

Why so? In The Communist Manifesto Karl Marx claims that true “communists disdain to conceal their views and aims”. And yet here we clearly see that when it comes to avowing who it is that funds and organizes the speaking engagements wherein those views are shared  – a state which identifies itself with the Marxian tradition –  deception and disavowal is the actual behavior practiced.

Alliance for Global Justice is Funded by Venezuelan Government and their Political Associates

Alliance for Global Justice admitting by silence that they are funded by Venezuela.

Blocking my profile and ignoring my questions have been a typical tactic of those involved with Venezuela’s network of artists, activists and intellectuals living and operating in the United States.

To my surprise, one of the operators of Alliance for Global Justice Facebook account responded to one of my comments after the talk had ended. I can’t say I’m terribly surprised, as I prefaced my inquiry with purposefully provocative comments.

Not to my surprise, the Alliance for Global Justice account operator responding to my prior inquiry did not answer the question as to the relationship between Venezuela and their organization. Nevertheless  the existence of this thread allows me now to say definitively that the Alliance for Global Justice is funded in part by Nicolas Maduro and his network of associates.

How can I legitimately this claim despite the fact that they didn’t answer? Two reasons.

First, there is the fact that the political history of the organization and the activities it supports are aligned with Hugo Chavez’s Gramscian phantasy of Latin America united under Venezuela’s rule.

Secondly is the ancient legal precept Qui tacet consentire videtur, which translated in English to “He who is silent is taken to agree”.

Cultural Marxism as a Worldview Propounded by the Directors of Kultural Marxism 

Understanding the origins of the Alliance for Global Justice’s funding of politically polarizing socialist views and events is important as it relates to destroying the anti-Semitic mythos of Cultural Marxism and verifying my claims of the existence of Venezuela’s Kultural Marxism operations.

Given the many anti-Semitic/anti-Israel views expressed and actions taken by the Venezuelan government along with the Cultural Marxist claim that George Soros uses the Alliance for Global Justice as part of some amorphous international Jewish conspiracy I would hypothesize that they are in part responsible for some of the content or promotion on the matter.  Considering that this narrative also deflects from the much more sensible explanation that this is part of Venezuela’s effort to create a multi-polar world, it seems all the more true.