Sammy, you would be hard-pressed to find a journal, news source, media outlet or association that isn’t adopting codes just like this one. You may be overstating the ‘risk’ to a journalist.

Just a few:

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/18/880636515/new-york-times-washington-post-announce-major-changes-to-move-forward-on-race

https://diversity.voxmedia.com/

And associations with functions that overlap with ours:

https://www.iasa-web.org/blog/new-year%E2%80%99s-message-diversity-inclusion-and-professional-behavior

Gerald


347-504-5311

123 Mallory Rd.
Ghent, NY 12075

> On Jul 21, 2020, at 10:47 PM, Sammy Jones <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Jeff Willens:
> "I looked at the "Statement from the ARSC Board Opposing Racism and Police Brutality" document on the ARSC website again. How has this transformed ARSC into an "activist" organization?"
>
> I respond:
> Taking stances on social justice is activism. The statement names certain individuals that I am actively writing about as a journalist. It also takes a specific side, which I cannot do. The Board is speaking for ARSC as an organization, of which I am a member. Publicly expressing these views is not compatible with the ethics of who I am as a professional. Finally, what does any of this have to do with sound archiving?
>
> Jeff Willens:
> "How is this "political"? This reads more like a humanitarian view to me rather than a political view."
>
> I respond:
> It specifically addresses policy decisions by local governments, and names individuals affected by those decisions directly. Again, it takes a side in a political debate, and a side in several cases working their ways through the criminal justice system. Cases which have not be tried in a court of law. It is by definition political. I cover these stories on a daily basis. I cannot be associated with a group that actively takes a side on them. Is that clear?
>
> Jeff Willens:
> "How does supporting the inclusion efforts the Board [...]"
>
> I respond:
> I have said nothing publicly about my feeling on any inclusion efforts, whatsoever.
>
> Jeff Willens:
> "[...] is proposing lead you to become a less impartial journalist (if such a thing exists)?"
>
> I respond:
> I'm not sure what you mean, here. Are you questioning the partiality of journalists, or some journalists, or me?
>
> Jeff Willens:
> "AFAIK, ARSC does not donate to or endorse presidential candidates or parties. Nor do we donate to protest movements. So what's really the issue?"
>
> I respond:
> The ARSC Board's statement quotes language used by certain protest movements. That's an outright endorsement of a political cause. That's the issue.
>
> Again, I have not told you how I personally feel about any of these issues, and I won't on this forum. None of this has anything to with records or or sound archiving.
>
> Sammy Jones