On the Record

One of the most prominent journalists of our time. Best known for the political column he wrote for the New York Times from 1966 until his retirement in 1991, Tom Wicker has covered a wide range of news events, from the Bay of Pigs fiasco to the Gulf War. He has worked for numerous other newspapers over the years and has taught journalism as a visiting professor at Davidson College and Middle Tennessee State University. He has been a fellow at the First Amendment Center in Nashville and the Joan Shorenstein Barone Center for Politics and Journalism at Harvard.

A focus on the practice of journalism ethics in the field. No single code can cover every ethical decision a reporter has to make. Instead, Wicker looks at the conditions surrounding individual decisions. He encourages students to ask themselves, "What is the responsible action in this situation?" By stressing the importance of individual responsibility and putting personal experience before rigid rules, On the Record gives students a blueprint for ethical journalism that is both practical and empowering.

Coverage of a wide range of journalistic issues. Treating everything from questions of individual privacy versus the rights of the press to the pressures of deadlines, On the Record takes a close look at the daily challenges that journalists face and shows students how, with sound judgement and some creative thinking, professional journalists stay on top of the news.

Inspirational, behind-the-scenes stories of life on a major paper. Wicker's direct narrative style and use of real-world examples allow students to learn firsthand the background of some of the biggest stories of the 20th century.

A solid core text or an engaging supplement. The range of topics treated in On the Record make it a perfect core text for any journalism ethics course, while Wicker's accessible approach and jargon-free prose make the text a suitable supplement for an introductory level journalism course.