September 17th, 2008

A door to the new economy

baystatebanner

A door to the new economy

“I have to get with the new economy.”

The unemployment rate in the U.S. hit 6.1 percent in August, the highest it has been in the last five years. This news heightened the public’s concern about the nation’s foundering economy. The quality of life depends upon holding a job.

There is even reason for those who have held the same job for years to be apprehensive. The nature of the economy is changing. Some industries that flourished in past years are now headed for decline. Reductions in the workforce can often be sudden and dramatic.

There are many skills that can be transferred from one industry to another. For example, certified public accountants and human services experts working in manufacturing are already qualified for employment in biotechnology, administration of higher education or health care. Anyone with a doubt about the future prospects with their present employer should attend the Banner’s Power DiversityToday Career Explosion.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 4-8 p.m., representatives from the fields of higher education, biotechnology and health care will participate in a program that includes a forum with panelists to explain the opportunities in these growing industries, as well as recruiters to provide specific information to those who are interested.

In addition, there will be representatives from a number of other companies seeking executive- or professional-level personnel. Those interested should go to the Banner Web site at baystatebanner.wpengine.com/careerevents to learn more and register.

Increasing family wealth is the next challenge for African Americans and other minorities. The Banner organized Power DiversityToday to help facilitate this process.

A lapse in integrity

Not too many years ago, people believed that if something was printed in the newspaper, it was gospel. The publicist who dared slip some disinformation by an unsuspecting reporter would be condemned to prevaricator’s purgatory, where he would languish for some time.

Now the rules have changed. The question is no longer whether the statement is true; the issue has become merely whether the publicist has actually issued the statement. Editors no longer expect reporters to reject that which is patently false, as long as the statement can be attributed to a “reliable source.”

One wonders whether the press actually understands the consequences of this policy. Public confidence in the veracity of the press has eroded. People no longer view newspapers as almost as reliable as Scripture. This has made it easier for readers to turn away from newspapers with the emergence of other media that have little pretense about factual accuracy.

Journalists exacerbated the problem with their commitment to the policy of “objectivity,” which requires that they treat obvious lies from political candidates as though they are the truth. The rationale is that the opposing candidate has the responsibility to attack the veracity of the statement or advertisement.

However, journalists have a higher calling. As the fourth estate, the fourth pillar of American democracy, journalists must keep public communications open and free from false information that could mislead voters.

Sen. John McCain has embarked on a cynical campaign to hijack this presidential election by misleading the public. He has effectively employed television advertising, cable news programs and video-sharing Web sites in this nefarious enterprise. With newspapers locked in a battle for survival against other media, a further decline in public confidence in the integrity of the press and the written word could be fatal for the industry.

/imported