Ethics and Ethos: Writing an Effective Newspaper Ombudsman Position

Abstract

Ombudsmen are profoundly a part of the ethos of newspaper journalism. In this essay, I argue that Daniel Okrent's tenure as the public editor of The New York Times provides American journalism and individual ombudsmen a model by which to meet part of the ethical standard Meyers (2000) posits. I assume that individual ombudsmen should assert moral authority in the position through a persuasive use of rhetorical ethos. The ethical appeals of Okrent and Michael Getler, ombudsman at the Washington Post, were compared. Despite structural and institutional similarities in the positions, Okrent's ethical appeal fits Meyers' model and Getler's does not.

Notes

¹The word count represents the total number of words published in columns during Okrent's period of employment minus quotes. I removed all quotes of more than four words and all quotes with first-person references. Total published words for Okrent: 51,368. Total published words for Getler: 51,018.

²Terms: I, I'd, I'll, I'm, I've, me, mine, my, myself.

³Terms: we, us, our.