For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 06, 2024

Ask him if it’s all right to publish it without using his name.

I know nothing about Canadian law vis-à-vis journalism, but I’m going out on a limb here and guess that Mike doesn’t either.

I think most publication are required to ask for permission to print if the story is an interview with an actual person. The interviewer has to ask them to sign papers. But Mike is just just a student doing an assignment for class. But if it’s gonna be published, the student paper will need to have Mike bring permission slip. But since he has verbally declined, Mike will have to rescind his entry.

I think for whatever reason, he doesn’t want the publicity that might follow.

Is he gonna ask for royalties now??

His story, his decision, Michael.

Will this create doubt about a journalistic career for young Michael? Stay tuned!

The problem with the press is that they sensationalize everything. Maybe he doesn’t want to be found by old relatives….or enemies.

Mr. Bergner just wants to keep a low profile, as kittygatos stated “maybe he doesn’t want to be found…”

…and thus, ethics class was born.

I’m surprised they asked and would be even more surprised if they listened.

well, as they used to say on Dragnet, ‘the names have been changed to protect the innocent’

He does have his rights to privacy – I think?

Back to work, kiddo!

Always remember anything you say may be used against you, that is why the police assist the Italians when they are arrested they handcuff them behind their backs so they can not talk. Its always better to not say anything and look stupid then to open your mouth and prove it.

Nice nose..

Ummm… When Mike originally asked Mr. Bergner (on 1/25), he said it was for the school newspaper…

Good thing you talked to him; you can spare him the pain of having his grief broadcast. And he’s right: not everybody is comfortable sharing with that wide an audience. It wouldn’t be right to turn him into a campus celebrity if he’s not comfortable losing his anonymity.

… And Mike learns his first lesson in the ethics of journalism!

Ah yes, the age old dilemma in journalism, the rights of the press vs the rights of the subject(s).

And the entire story was just made up on the spot.

Mr. Bergner has a valid point. Don’t publish the story against his will, Mike.

This particular story is very appropriate for Lynn Johnston, who had a few moments in her past in dealing with the press, where they may have reported an honest story, but not a story that Lynn Johnston wanted reported. There was one several years ago that they actually reprinted in one of her treasuries where Lynn mentioned her mother in a less than favorable light. Lynn’s mother was still alive at the time and the reporter shockingly called up her mother to confirm the accusations and put her reaction in the story. I would expect Lynn Johnston did not like that story when it was published and may have preferred it not to be published.

Celebrity over honesty… Tough call for Mike!

Using other people’s stories for personal profit? Now Mike is like Lynn Johnston?

You freely give a story to a self-professed author; it probably becomes at least public domain. But, maybe not in Canada.

Actually he did say it was for the newspaper. See the January 25 strip.

i was once quoted in the student newspaper at the college where i worked. The author never asked my permission to cite me, nor had even hinted that she was with the paper. i had some explaining to do to my bosses.

Exactly.

Second lesson about good journalism.

People are entitled to their privacy. Mr B thought it was just for homework. He might not have told his story if he thought it might have a wider audience. The features editor should have had Mike ask Mr B before deciding it belomgs in the paper.

“DANG! Well, back to the story of how Lizardbreath almost bought a new sweater.”

Either he gets royalties or wins a lawsuit. It’s a win-win situation

Mike did say it was for the newspaper. Did the janitor say his comments were “off the record”? There’s a whole big debate about what can and cannot be published if the “source” invokes “off the record”. (And there’s a very funny song by George M Cohan about that very thing. You can find it in the movie “Yankee Doodle Dandy”.

People DID get over the Berlin Wall in real life, you know….

escaped nazi?

Well, there is no more Stazie’s, but The Wiesenthal Center might be interested.

He’s a Nazi in hiding!

Hmm, so now the above term is OK but when I tried to type these words this was the result:

Spanish Words:

White = Blanco

Gray = Gris

Pink = Rosa

Red = Rojo

Orange = Naranjado

Yellow = Amarillo

Green = Verde

Aquamarine = Aquamarina

Blue = Azul

Purple = Morado

Brown = Marron

Black = CENSORED

Maybe he just wants to go about his life without having a spotlight on it and maybe losing his job. There was a 15-year old African-American girl arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for not moving from her seat on the bus, nine months before Rosa Parks. She and her name disappeared from history. Roughly fifty years later, an author tracked her down. She didn’t want to publicize her story or where she was until she retired, not wanting to lose her job or have the media bothering her employer. He followed her wishes, then published the book after she retired about Claudette Colvin.

I worked as an Air Traffic Controller. One day a guy that was visiting the facility was talking to One of my fellow workers. Turns out the guy was a reporter for a local newspaper. The guy edited and published the conversation and the story had some controversial edited facts in it. My fellow worker received a letter of reprimand even though the guy never told him he was a member of the media.

If the janitor did not say it was off the record any journalist would feel justified in printing it if they wished. An obligation perhaps, although one that could be put aside if they truly felt they should although a compromise might be found, like withholding some identifying information.