A new book, “Truths about the Truth Seekers: The Media and the Law,” by Michigan veteran journalist and author Berl Falbaum, takes aim at some practices in the law and the media which, he says, undermine the public interest while deteriorating trust and credibility in the two.
“I chose to examine these two disciplines because they have a greater impact on our lives and democracy than any others,” said Falbaum, who spent 65 years in the media and as an author.
In the section on the media, he discusses: The failings of the Society of Professional Journalists’ ethics code; the lack of mechanisms to correct errors; anonymous sources, the problems with the 1964 landmark case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan; and other issues.
In the section of the law, among the issues he covers are: misconduct by prosecutors and defense attorneys; perjury and the fact that it is very rarely punished; the need to abolish capital punishment; and how lawyer-client confidentiality, at times, has cost the innocent their lives.
“The point is that in just about every poll, the media and the law are rated poorly as to their credibility and trustworthiness,” said Falbaum.
“I believe both disciplines need to conduct some self-examination and adopt much-needed changes.”
Falbaum was a general assignment and political reporter for 10 years at The Detroit News before accepting a position as administrative aide to Michigan’s lieutenant governor.
Then, he served as a speechwriter and media spokesperson for three major corporations before launching his own PR company, Falbaum and Associates, Inc.
He a current columnist for The Detroit Legal News and it associated publications.
Falbaum taught law of the press, media ethics, and news writing, for 45 years as an adjunct in the journalism department of Detroit’s Wayne State University. He also taught journalism as an adjunct professor for nearly 15 years at Oakland University in Rochester.
This is his 13th book.
One of his books, “A Matter or Precedents,” a novel, dealt with media ethics as did a play he wrote, “No Comment,” which was produced by a community theater.
Softcover and ebooks are available at Amazon Prime.
Softcover books can also be ordered at bpfalbaum@yahoo.com.
“I chose to examine these two disciplines because they have a greater impact on our lives and democracy than any others,” said Falbaum, who spent 65 years in the media and as an author.
In the section on the media, he discusses: The failings of the Society of Professional Journalists’ ethics code; the lack of mechanisms to correct errors; anonymous sources, the problems with the 1964 landmark case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan; and other issues.
In the section of the law, among the issues he covers are: misconduct by prosecutors and defense attorneys; perjury and the fact that it is very rarely punished; the need to abolish capital punishment; and how lawyer-client confidentiality, at times, has cost the innocent their lives.
“The point is that in just about every poll, the media and the law are rated poorly as to their credibility and trustworthiness,” said Falbaum.
“I believe both disciplines need to conduct some self-examination and adopt much-needed changes.”
Falbaum was a general assignment and political reporter for 10 years at The Detroit News before accepting a position as administrative aide to Michigan’s lieutenant governor.
Then, he served as a speechwriter and media spokesperson for three major corporations before launching his own PR company, Falbaum and Associates, Inc.
He a current columnist for The Detroit Legal News and it associated publications.
Falbaum taught law of the press, media ethics, and news writing, for 45 years as an adjunct in the journalism department of Detroit’s Wayne State University. He also taught journalism as an adjunct professor for nearly 15 years at Oakland University in Rochester.
This is his 13th book.
One of his books, “A Matter or Precedents,” a novel, dealt with media ethics as did a play he wrote, “No Comment,” which was produced by a community theater.
Softcover and ebooks are available at Amazon Prime.
Softcover books can also be ordered at bpfalbaum@yahoo.com.
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