UK:Guardian editor: Where's the line in today's news free-for-all?

Posted by Kelley Vendeland on March 4, 2008 at 9:53 AM

In a new article, Emily Bell, editor-in-chief of the Guardian Unlimited, tackles the question of how media outlets should adapt in a world where "anyone can publish anything, about anyone, anywhere at anytime."

Two current events illustrate the relevance of this question: The Druge Report break of Prince Harry's military location, and the British government probing into the activities of BBC political editor Nick Robinson following his blogging about the controversy over House of Commons speaker Michael Martin.

Bell contends that the British government reaction is likely because Robinson's comments surfaced through the newer, more informal media form of a blog.

In Bell's eyes, the two incidents raises questions about the "erosion of central control in journalism" and point to the inevitable reality that "facts will increasingly surface outside conventional channels."

When news can be leaked at any given moment by anyone, the debate between privacy and free speech becomes even trickier for established media. For Bell, the line should be drawn at "no story is worth a life," a principle that can be applied to the media blackout on Prince Harry's location.

Others, however, feel that the blackout will affect the media's credibility.

Source: The Guardian