Vinson’s Variety: Responsibility accompanies journalism
With ears and eyes wide open, I watched Monday night’s Channel 5 News special “Perks of Power.” The special was an investigative report on Tennessee legislators allegedly abusing their positions of power, compromising their integrity, in favor of the perks, rewards, that follow.
Of key interest was video footage of state Sen. Jerry Cooper dining with a group at an upscale Nashville restaurant. Among the group depicted in that video, there indeed was talk of “support” for one another if the future evolved accordingly. And, from the video footage I watched — and that only — it appeared someone other than Sen. Cooper might have picked up the tab.
Throughout that Channel 5 video, though — the one with Sen. Cooper — I never one time heard or witnessed anyone lobbying anyone to act specifically concerning a specific political issue for a specific perk in return. And, yes, I repeatedly use the adjective specific because when destructively defamatory allegations are being levied, it is imperative these allegations be supported by specificity and definition, not conjecture and supposition.
Somewhat aligned with the media, I am a staunch supporter of honest, objective, meat-and-potatoes investigative journalism. In a world beset by numerous woes and wrongdoings, and subsequent cover-ups of the same, there are situations that demand a covert, stealthy approach.
On the other hand, however, I am an ardent foe of investigative sensationalism for the mere sake of news stations trying to boost ratings and overly zealous journalists attempting to make their names household ones at the cost of others.
Of the investigative journalists I’ve met, they tend to be of two types: correct: those with depth of character who make an attempt to assess all pertinent facts for what they are and report accordingly; and politically correct: self-serving, fork-tongued egotists who know neither basement nor ceiling when it comes to getting what they want. One well-known, Nashville-based, investigative reporter in particular comes to mind concerning the latter. If you’ve been a follower of local news for very long, you know exactly who I’m talking about.
What I, personally, saw on Monday’s video featuring Sen. Cooper appeared to be nothing more than a social outing composed of friends, constituents, and, lobbyists. Now, in no way am I saying Tennessee legislators are immune to less-than-savory conduct. What I’m precisely saying is that in that video I did not hear nor witness Sen. Jerry Cooper conduct himself in a manner that justifies him being presented to the public under the guise of wrongdoing. Nor am I saying that Channel 5 is absolutely wrong for conducting the investigation.
Obviously, there are some on Capitol Hill in Nashville who should be investigated and sternly dealt with (one for sure). Politicians are humans, and in the human formula there must be allowances for a factor of human error.
I do feel, though, that Channel 5 should and could have been more responsible and selective with what, exactly, it chose to release on its investigative special, “Perks of Power.” Last but not least, it would be most interesting to know just who gave the go-ahead for the placement of video cams inside those restaurants. Next thing you know, it won’t be safe to use the rest room in those establishments.
(Mike Vinson is a Warren County columnist. He can be reached at [email protected].)