08/06/2008

Lives scarred forever

CARLOS EDUARDO LINS DA SILVA
ombudsman@uol.com.br

It is undeniable that the current ease in finding documents about the life of any person could cause harm and even irreparable tragedies

A woman in England had a mastectomy, agreed to give an interview to a newspaper and allowed her picture to be used in a report about cancer. Five years later, a boyfriend looked up her name on the Internet, found the story, became disgusted and broke up with her. She asked the newspaper to remove her name and photo from its website.

A man in the United States admitted himself into a rehabilitation clinic for alcoholics and allowed his name to appear in a story about recovery for drug addicts. Three years later, recovered, he had great difficulties getting a job because companies searched for his name on the Internet and did not trust him.

These are two recent examples of a dilemma that journalists and news organizations have faced due to the new reality created by enormous access to information that technological resources of the Internet make available to millions of people.

From what can be observed of the intense discussion generated by the topic at the recent meeting of ombudsmen from around the world, there still is no consensus established about how to proceed in these cases.

Most news organizations in developed countries adopted the practice of correcting errors in archived material. Some, such as the British newspaper "The Guardian," wait 24 hours before electronically archiving a story so that if some correction needs to be made, it can be incorporated into the original before being archived.

Obviously, everyone is worried about the integrity of the archives. Any journalist with ethical concerns is repelled by the idea of allowing alterations in what was published because the serious historic distortions resulting from this are obvious.

It also is undeniable that the current ease of finding documents in seconds which are not necessarily correct and whose facts have been denied over time about the life of any person could lead to discomfort, harm or even irreparable personal tragedies.

Even when there is no error or ethical blunder by the news organization, as in the two cases cited above, the news organization's situation becomes delicate.

Should a news organization from now on warn a person being interviewed that his story and his image could be accessed by the public for the rest of his life before obtaining authorization to tell it and expose it? After reflecting about this, will many people who are interviewed refuse to the point of making journalistic operations unviable?

I recently helped a reader who asked me for Folha to remove from its archives two stories in which he was interviewed when he was young. He asserted that they contain false information. Even though there were no falsehoods, he, like any other person could regret having made such assertions, perhaps the result of youthful outbursts, to which we are all subject.

The managing editor informed me that Folha "does not alter its digital archives, believing that this would be 'rewriting' history, modifying what was already printed," that "all of the corrections published are in the digital version, but still are not indexed to corresponding stories" and it is "working to do this soon."

I hope that "soon" will be very soon and that the newspaper considers the possibility that, in some extreme cases, for humanitarian reasons, it makes exceptions to the rule to not meddle with the electronic archive.

Short, but serious

The front page of the health supplement, Equilibrium, on May 29, published a drawing of a black man to illustrate a story about unpleasant body odors. Many readers complained with justified indignation. Pressed by the ombudsman, the illustrator and editor said they had no intention of making the association and regretted that the result had caused such reactions. That's good, but too little. A public apology would have been much more appropriate.

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The announcement of a new mall on the front page May 31 with the photo of a well-known actress, said: "Read more in the arts and entertainment section." While identified as "advertising information," it seemed to some readers to be a teaser for a news story. In the arts and entertainment section there was nothing to read about the mall, only ads for it. The newsroom did not know (and should not know) the contents of the ads. But someone at the newspaper needs to be careful that they don't create confusion between advertising and journalism.

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A large part of the Letters to the Editor has returned to being occupied by press advisers. It is fair that they have space to complain. But whether or not it is in the news as the "other side" or in a new section, it could be called the "right to response" or even "the other side." Letters to the Editor belongs to readers.

Topics most commented during the week

1. Alstom case
2. Sports coverage
3. Political party donations

What the newspaper did right

Stem cells
Coverage of the whole process by the newspaper was impartial and precise, despite its clear and justified editorial position

American election
The newspaper never entered "Obamamania" and followed the process of choosing the Democratic Party candidate in an impartial and instructive way

Child car seats
A story on Thursday was an example of useful service and education with concrete reader interest

And where it was wrong

Quinteto Violado
Telling about the death of Antonio Alves, leader of the musical group "Quinteto Violado" was well done, but insufficient given the group's importance

Bicentennial
A page about 200 years of the press carried good stories, but it was too little given the significance of the date

Alstom case
Coverage improved, but remains in the wake of competitors and still lacks editorial effort

To read

"Atonement," by Ian McEwan (Companhia das Letras, 2002) - extraordinary novel tells how a mistake by a pre-adolescent provokes tragic consequences for the family and alters its future (starting at 35.60 reals, or US $22.25)

To see

"Ordinary People," by Robert Redford, with Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore (1980) - Redford's great debut as a director shows how an accident that causes the death of a brother for whom he feels responsible transforms the life of a youth (in English, imported, starting at 53.90 reals).

"The Emperor's Club," by Michael Hoffman, with Kevin Kline and Emile Hirsch (2002) - a good film tells the story of a mistake made by a young member of a powerful family at school and follows him the rest of his life (starting at 14.99 reals).

-Translation by John Wright