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"60 Minutes" and the Benghazi Scandal Trap, The New Yorker,…
"60 Minutes" and the Benghazi Scandal Trap, The New Yorker, November 12, 2013
1. Ethical Dilemmas
"60 Minutes" did not correct their report, instead, they pull it completely from their website.
Davies' report was inaccurate, "60 Minutes" knew this and still aired the segment on CBS.
Dylan Davies' book that was promoted on the show was being published by a unit of CBS which was not clarified to the show's viewers.
Logan presents Libya "as nothing but a place with a diplomatic mission and Al Qaeda’s black flags in the street." and ignores that the US was engaged in the "violent transition in Libya".
2. Ethical Issues Raised
Reporters entertain the idea that Davies' story was true and that this is a conspiracy (possibly) created by the US government.
The audience was not aware that there was personal gain (by CBS) for having Davies' book promoted on their show.
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"60 Minutes" is biased in reporting the US's involvement in Libya and paints a picture of the circumstance that is not truthful.
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5. Devil's Advocate
CBS could have forgotten that Simon & Schuster was a unit of CBS and it was actually an oversight not giving a disclaimer about their involvement with Davies' new book.
CBS tried to stop the distribution of the false information presented on their show "60 Minutes" but were unsuccessful in doing so.
Maybe this is a conspiracy against Dylan Davies and the FBI falsified his testimony in order to hide something.
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6. How could using a balance in research and reporting tactics have made a difference in the outcome of what was reported?
"60 Minutes"could have waited until they had a chance to thoroughly read through the FBI report as to what happened before they published their story to verify their sources and their interviewees.
Completely taking down the story from their website was much worse than openly editing and updating the story. This could have helped with the distribution and circulation of false information.
If "60 Minutes" and its reporters were careful, took time, and maintained honesty while reporting, they could maintain their aim for journalistic integrity. Journalists and the media need to see the importance between the truth and breaking a story a few minutes before anyone else.