Wallace: Revive Media Ethics

An annual "citation for journalistic malpractice" should be awarded to irresponsible members of the media, "60 Minutes" reporter Mike Wallace told an audience of approximately 250 people at the fourth annual Goldsmith Awards last night at the Institute of Politics.

Wallace, who was presented the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism, addressed the issue of the decline of public confidence in the media.

The Goldsmith Award recognizes those who achieve excellence in the "theory and practice" of journalism, according to Dean of the Kennedy School of Government and Provost Albert Carnesale, who was one of the award presenters.

Citing a 1990 Wall Street Journal and NBC News poll which indicates that only 21 percent of Americans view the media as honest or trustworthy, Wallace suggested that a National News Council composed of journalists and academics-as originally set up in 1973-be resurrected.

"I believe that a revival of the council is worth a second shot," Wallace said. This council would act as a watch dog for "journalistic malpractice," he said.

The council was based in New York as an independent group that issued non-binding opinions on criticisms of the media. It folded in 1983 after struggling for acceptance.

In his speech, Wallace used himself as an example of a journalist who on occasion did not act honestly. "What kind of malpractice am I talking about...let's begin with me on '60 Minutes,''' he said.

Wallace spoke of an incident in which he placed a tiny hidden camera in his office without the knowl- edge of his interviewee, an act for which helater apologized.

"The only harm done was selfinflicted.Journalistic malpractice? Absolutely. We had liedto an interviewee," he said.

Marvin Kalb, Edward R. Murrow Professor at theKennedy School, presented Wallace with a Harvardchair as a present at the conclusion of theceremony.

The $25,000 Goldsmith Prize for InvestigativeReporting and $5,000 Goldsmith Book prize werealso issued at the ceremony. The top investigativereporting prize went to Lizette Alvarez and LisaGetter of the Miami Herald for "Lost inAmerica: Our Failed Immigration Policy."

The awards are funded by the estate of Berda M.Goldsmith, who "believed strongly in the importantrole of the press in a democracy," Carnesale said.

"There are very few things that are done by[the Kennedy School] that are not supported by theGoldsmith Foundation," said Frederick Schauer,acting director of the Kennedy School andco-presenter of the event.

Wallace will be speaking this morning at theKennedy School at a panel discussion entitled,"The Present and Future of InvestigativeReporting." Reporters from several of the nation'sleading newspapers will also be present.

Before his speech, Wallace attended a privatecocktail party and dinner at the Kennedy School.CrimsonJoel D. SawadyMIKE WALLACE cited a national poll aboutmistrust of the media.

"The only harm done was selfinflicted.Journalistic malpractice? Absolutely. We had liedto an interviewee," he said.

Marvin Kalb, Edward R. Murrow Professor at theKennedy School, presented Wallace with a Harvardchair as a present at the conclusion of theceremony.

The $25,000 Goldsmith Prize for InvestigativeReporting and $5,000 Goldsmith Book prize werealso issued at the ceremony. The top investigativereporting prize went to Lizette Alvarez and LisaGetter of the Miami Herald for "Lost inAmerica: Our Failed Immigration Policy."

The awards are funded by the estate of Berda M.Goldsmith, who "believed strongly in the importantrole of the press in a democracy," Carnesale said.

"There are very few things that are done by[the Kennedy School] that are not supported by theGoldsmith Foundation," said Frederick Schauer,acting director of the Kennedy School andco-presenter of the event.

Wallace will be speaking this morning at theKennedy School at a panel discussion entitled,"The Present and Future of InvestigativeReporting." Reporters from several of the nation'sleading newspapers will also be present.

Before his speech, Wallace attended a privatecocktail party and dinner at the Kennedy School.CrimsonJoel D. SawadyMIKE WALLACE cited a national poll aboutmistrust of the media.