The Hack Who Has Never Hacked....
By Alan Fisher
Journalists are largely unloved by the public. Survey after survey puts my chosen profession towards the bottom of the likeability scale, only estate agents are held in more distaste, and even that might be a close run thing now.
In TV and the movies, the journalist is rarely the hero, and when he is (and it's more often a he) he is flawed and broken, ruined by the job and the demands it makes.
The last few weeks have not been good for journalists. And in the fevered revulsion of the underhand, illegal and immoral tactics used by some British newspaper journalists to get their stories it is easy to lose perspective.
In a democracy, journalism should play an important role. It should help inform the public so they can make considered decisions about those who seek to lead. It should hold to account those in power. It may be surprising to quote Rupert Murdoch but as he told the British parliament's committee meeting he was summoned to attend on Tuesday: "The country benefits from a competitive press and a transparent society. That is greatly inconvenient for some people, but it makes this country stronger."
Continued here.....
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/europe/2011/07/21/hack-who-has-never-hacked
A Good Read!