Colleagues:

I am inclined to place the Jayson Blair episode in perspective relative to
the issues involved rather than the individual personality. Mr. Blair is a
deeply troubled person who is receiving badly needed professional services.
As a MAC division, perhaps we shouldn't ignore the issues of plagiarism and
other unethical practices, but should do so in context of broader
educational and professional concerns rather than focusing on Mr. Blair. I
am concerned that CNN and pundits on other media outlets have chosen to
connect Mr. Blair's transgressions to affirmative action and diversity in
the newsroom -- allegations we cannot let go unchallenged.

-- Clint Wilson

-----Original Message-----
From: amohamed
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 5/14/03 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: Jayson Blair & AEJMC

Dear MAC Members,

Some in AEJMC are literally salivating at the possibility of tearing
Jayson Blair of the New York Times apart at Kansas City.
The way some folks are talking about it, you would think that plagiarism
has never been an issue  in American journalism before.
What Jayson did is indefensible, but he is neither the first to engage
in plagiarism and unethical conduct nor will he be the last.
MAC will and should resist the temptation by some to demonize Jayson
Blair
beyond what is warranted.
For example, here is a note by somebody calling for a special session
devoted
to the Jayson Blair affair at the Kansas City program:

"If we don't make this historic Jayson Blair NY Times scandal--with all
its
implications for our industry, for our students and for us--a central
part
of our session in Kansas City, than we are an irrelevant organization
that
has no business saying it's involved with "journalism education"

I think this is uncalled for. But I would like to hear what others in
MAC
think of this before I commit our Division to a position.
Ali.