Crossing the line

The Society of Professional Journalists has issued an important reminder to journalists in Haiti, the earthquake is the story, not the reporter covering the earthquake.

"I think it's important for journalists to be cognizant of their roles in disaster coverage,” SPJ President Kevin Smith said. "Advocacy, self promotion, offering favors for news and interviews, injecting oneself into the story or creating news events for coverage is not objective reporting, and it ultimately calls into question the ability of a journalist to be independent, which can damage credibility."