A Case Study in Values and Ethical Leadership

SHATTERED GLASS

A Case Study in Values and Ethical Leadership

Adapted from 2005 case by Gerard Rossy

Experience is the toughest teacher, because she gives the test first and the lesson after. "Thought of the Day" on the blackboard in the high school classroom.

Plot Summary

A 2003 film by Lions Gate ProductionWritten & Directed by Billy Ray

This film tells the true story of fraudulent Washington, D.C. journalist Stephen Glass (Christensen), who rose to meteoric heights as a young writer in his early 20s, becoming a staff writer and associate editor at The New Republic for three years (19951998), where at least 27 of his 41 published stories were either partially or completely fabricated. Looking for a short cut to fame, Glass concocted sources, quotes and even entire stories, but his deception did not go unnoticed forever, and eventually, his world came crumbling down. This film tells the story of how one of the most respected political magazines, The New RepublicCnicknamed "the inflight magazine of Air Force One"Cfell from grace in the world of journalism, and how one individual, Chuck Lane, showed great moral courage in confronting this issue and redeeming the publication.

Cast

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The New Republic (TNR)

The New Republic is an American journal of opinion published weekly and with a circulation of around 100,000. The current owner and editorinchief is Martin Peretz. TNR was founded by Herbert Croly and Walter Lippmann through the financial backing of heiress Dorothy Payne Whitney and her husband, Willard Straight, who maintained majority ownership. In 1975, the magazine was bought by Harvard lecturer Martin Peretz, who transformed TNR into its current incarnation. Peretz was a veteran of the New Left who had broken with that movement over its support of various Third World liberationist movements, particularly the Palestine Liberation Organization. Under Peretz TNR has advocated both strong U.S. support for Israel and a muscular U.S. foreign policy.

While TNR is often considered a liberal, or neoliberal, publication with a strong intellectual streak, some American progressives disagree with characterizing it as "liberal". They would instead use that term more for magazines like The Nation and The Progressive. Most would say that, at least in the Peretz era, it is a centrist publication in the realms of foreign and economic policy but one that remains progressive on social issues. During the 1980s the magazine generally supported President Reagan's antiCommunist foreign policy, including provision of aid to the Contras. It also supported both Gulf Wars and, reflecting its belief in the moral efficacy of American power, intervention in "humanitarian" crises such as those in Bosnia and Kosovo during the Yugoslav wars.

(TriviaCLisa Simpson in the TV animated series The Simpsons is portrayed as a subscriber to The New Republic for Kids. This is undoubtedly because Matt Groening, the Simpson's creator, wrote for TNR.)

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The New Republic Editors

*Walter Lippmann (19141917)

*Henry A. Wallace (19461948)

*Martin Peretz (19751979)

*Michael Kinsley (19791981; 19851989)

*Hendrik Hertzberg (19811985; 19891991)

*Andrew Sullivan (19911996)

*Michael Kelly (19961997)

*Charles Lane (19971999)

*Peter Beinart (1999current)

The New Republic Mission & Values

(Source: D/L 4/26/06)

The most important opinion magazine.

When The New Republic was founded in 1914, its mission was to provide readers with an intelligent, stimulating, and rigorous examination of American politics, foreign policy, and culture.

It has brilliantly maintained its mission for over 90 years.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, The New Republic is uniquely positioned to cover public affairs from an insider's vantage point. Its editors are among the most respected and influential journalists in the country, known for their uncanny ability to get at the important stories long before they reach other media and whose expertise has earned The New Republic the loyalty of influential readers on all points of the political spectrum.

Focus on the truth.

Our coverage of U.S. politics doesn't only give you the feel of the race from the inside; it says what others won't. We don't go after the people everyone thinks are wrong; we go after the people everyone thinks are right. We're not interested in being polite; we're interested in telling the truth.

Avoid conventional wisdom.

We turn the news on its head and show how the herdlike press invariably latches on to political clichés that aren't just wrong, but absurd. While everyone else was saying that September 11, 2001, had changed America, we ran an entire issue showing that it hadn't C from our belief in religion to our disinterest in foreign news to our unwillingness to protect the homeland, the United States is pretty much the same. When the other business magazines we're crowing about China's dramatic growth, we showed that it was actually in economic crisis.

Strength in reporting.

The New Republic makes arguments C startling, intricate, razorsharp arguments C and we back them up. We do that by sending our reporters to pound the pavement and burn up the telephone lines to get the information that explains why, when, and how.

Don't forget the humor.

One more thing: TNR is funny C laughoutloud funny. Anyone who is serious about journalism and politics knows that occasionally humor is the best way to fully capture the moment. Our Notebook section, which skewers Washington hypocrisy and double speech, is savagely witty.

All about quality.

The New Republic's readers are sophisticated and affluent people who surround themselves with the finer things in life. These readers represent a market of uncompromising taste and spending power.

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Questions for DiscussionCCase A

I. Organizational and Individual Values

A. What were the values of the reporters at TNR? Provide some examples to illustrate how these values were manifested in the behaviors or statements of the characters.

B. What were Stephen Glass's values? How do they differ from those of the other reporters?

C. Do you think that the values of the editors (Michael Kelly and Chuck Lane) differ in any way from those of the young reporters? If so, how and why?

D. Were these values consistent with those of the Society of Professional Journalists (see Appendix A) for each of the following:

1. The reporting staff?

2. The editors?

3. Stephen Glass?

E. Compare the values identified in AD above with the mission and values of TNR.

1. Do you see any potential conflicts? If so what were they?

2. Which values are likely to dominate? Why?

II. Ethical Frameworks

A. What ethical framework(s) (see Appendix B) would each of the following people publicly claim to be using to guide their professional behavior at TNR? What framework do you think represents their actual motives? Put your perceptions in the table below. (be able to explain your reasoning)

B. How did the reporting staff perceive them? If you they were seen as having different actual and claimed ethics, what made them either transparent or not transparent and how did that affect their ability to gain the trust of others?

Michael Kelly?

Steven Glass?

Chuck Lane?

III. Power Bases

A. Rate the same three characters in the table below on their bases of power. Rate them as high (H), medium (M) or low (L) on each. Be able to provide some examples to justify your answers.

B. How did their relative power affect their ability to influence others and to be seen as credible and trustworthy?

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Questions for Discussion - Case B

In this case we will look at the behavior and actions of Chuck Lane in confronting the unethical behavior of Stephen Glass and the organizational culture that permitted that behavior to go unchecked. In conducting our analysis we will identify the qualities needed in an ethical leader and specific organization design elements that can help mitigate unethical behavior.

I. Ethical Leadership

A. What are the distinguishing characteristics and behaviors of an ethical leader?

B. What barriers did Chuck Lane face as the new editor of TNR?

C. Did Chuck Lane behave consistently with his values (did he walk the talk)?

D. What would you say were Chuck Lane's major strengths as a leader? What are some examples?

E. Did he have any weaknesses?

II. Dilemma Paradigms (see Appendix C)

A. Which dilemma paradigms did Chick Lane face?

B. Were these different from those faced by Michael Kelly in dealing with Stephen Glass?

C. Which dilemma paradigm was most central to each editor's situation?

III. Leadership and Character

A. What role did intuition ("gut feel") play in identifying and exposing Stephen Glass' unethical behavior?

B. Which of Chuck Lane's core values and beliefs created conflict and uncertainty for him?

C. How did the reporting staff's interpretations of the situation make it more difficult for Lane to confront the situation?

D. As TNR's editor, was Chuck Lane accountable for Stephen Glass' behavior?

E. What were the potential consequences of the exposure of Stephen Glass' fictional stories to TNR's reputation? How did Chuck Lane attempt to minimize those negative consequences?

IV. Organizational Strategies and External Factors

A. What could TNR do to prevent a similar occurrence from happening in the future? Be specific in your recommendations.

B. Did Forbes Online act ethically in exposing Stephen Glass?

C. Were Adam Pennenberg's and Kambiz Foroohar's (Forbes Online Editor) behaviors in researching and exposing Stephen Glass appropriate? Should they have done anything differently?

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Appendix A

Society of Professional Journalists

Code of Ethics

Preamble

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.

Seek Truth and Report It

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

*Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.

*Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

*Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.

*Always question sources' motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.

*Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

*Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.

*Avoid misleading reenactments or staged news events. If reenactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.

*Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story

*Never plagiarize.

*Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.

*Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.

*Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.

*Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

*Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.

*Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.

*Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

*Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

Minimize Harm

Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

*Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.

*Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.

*Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.

*Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy.

*Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.

*Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.

*Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.

*Balance a criminal suspect's fair trial rights with the public's right to be informed.

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Act Independently

Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.

Journalists should:

*Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

*Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.

*Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.

*Disclose unavoidable conflicts.

*Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.

*Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.

*Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.

Be Accountable

Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

Journalists should:

*Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.

*Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.

*Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.

*Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.

*Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

Appendix B

Ethical Frameworks

Utilitarianism: Looks at outcomes, not process. The principle is that everyone should act to generate the greatest benefits for the largest number of people (i.e, the highest net social benefit to society, the "greatest good for the greatest number" ...or maximize the social benefit function). In using this system one needs to consider both positive benefits and negative costs/outcomes, also satisfactions such as health, friendships in addition to material ones. Depends on relative values we assign to various outcomes.

Universalism (Categorical imperative): A rule-based approach. Looks at the intent and process by which decisions are made, not the outcome. Can apply by asking, Awould I be willing to make the basis for my action a general law binding everyone, given similar circumstances?@

Enlightened Self-Interest: Self-interest rightly understood, with a long-term perspective that individual self-interest and society=s interests are closely aligned. Can apply by asking, Ahow would I judge this from my deathbed?@ Ethical errors result from not understanding one=s true self-interest.

Ethical or Constrained Egoism: Takes an individual benefit perspective; centers around the standpoint of the individual. However, this system recognizes legal and social constraints.

Ethics of Interdependence: Based on relationships, interdependence, and reciprocity. Stresses duties and obligations rather than rights.

Appendix C

Dilemma Paradigms

Truth vs. Loyalty

Individual vs. Group or Community

Shortterm vs. Longterm

Justice vs. Mercy

last modified 4/29/06

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