Natalie Fry Opinion Writing February 13, 2014 Editorial #5 Glass Shattered in the Journalism World In the mid-1990s,

his name was on the byline of 41 stories in the acclaimed national magazine, The New Republic. Today, Stephen Glass is more commonly known for fabricating 27 of those stories. While the scandal led to a biographical book deal and movie, one things for certain whatever seeped into Glasss veins or triggered a chemical imbalance in his brain possessed him to commit journalistic suicide. When a journalism student is learning The Associated Press style, how to write for a target audience and constantly refreshing proper grammar skills, he or she is also learning about ethics. Now, either Stephen Glass slept through every ethics course he ever took or he chose to ignore its relevance once he found himself in a top shelf position at just 25-year-old. He should have known that truth and timeliness are two of the most important factors to consider in journalism but hey, he was one for two. That counts, right? No. Eventually, the truth caught up to him. Speculation had surfaced surrounding dozens of his articles, and it was his final story, Hack Heaven, that pushed him into his fall from grace. Glasss editor, Charles Lane, exposed him in 1998 after three years of writing for The New Republic. The industry handled the issue well, rightfully firing Glass from his position; but that did not stop publication houses and film production companies from throwing offers at him for his story. It is almost as if Glass was rewarded for his lies like, thanks for fooling America with completely fictitious stories; now please sign this book deal and allow Lions Gate Films to shoot

Shattered Glass starring a bunch of Hollywood A-listers. His agreement to such offers sure sent a message of contriteness. Glasss demise in the field of journalism should be a perfect example as to what not to do for other journalists, especially young, fresh-faced newcomers who just framed their diplomas. If journalists truly value this field and want to find endless success in it, then following Glasss lead is a guaranteed death trap. Instead, there is a lot to be learned from his scheme, and it is all simple: practice accuracy and be loyal to the public. Indeed, Glass went on to find short-lived success in the aftermath of his dishonesty, but his name in the journalistic world is forever tarnished.