Journalistic integrity

I was talking to a friend online today, and I found something out that really disturbed me. She (I won't say names to protect those involved) was involved in a sexual harassment incident at work. Some guy was being really creepy, and this girl reported him to a superior. The situation didn't escalate from there.

Unfortunately, a columnist from a newspaper happened to hear about the situation. Didn't see it, heard about it while she was getting her hair done. This columnist then wrote a column about what happened, misquoting the victim of the harassment (my friend), saying she had tears welling up in her eyes, and commenting to those around her "How dare he touch me."

My friend said none of what this columnist wrote happened. If this is in fact the case--and I have no reason to believe she's lying to me--then there is a serious breach of journalistic integrity going on here. Not only did the columnist misquote a source, my friend told me she was never contacted about the story in any way.

You can't tell me it's good journalism to make up a story you think people will want to read. Especially in a situation as sensitive as sexual harassment. As journalists, we have to be fair and accurate, am I right? Well, this was neither. And with the lack of accountability  that I'm sure will follow, the publication the columnist writes for, as well as herself, will hurt because of it. Integrity is of the utmost importance. And it's disappointing that someone with a column and power at her publication is displaying that kind of (lack of) integrity.

Here's to hoping more journalists aren't like this, and that our generation of writers can be more accountable.