The following editorial appeared in the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday, July 27:

The controversy involving media mogul Rupert Murdoch's now-defunct tabloid, News of the World, sullies the entire journalism profession and gives ammunition to our biggest critics. It also presents a good opportunity to clarify the differences between mainstream American journalism and the shoddy work now under the microscope in Britain.

Both models aim to inform the public, not just as a public service but also as a business. Where we sharply part ways is on the question of priority - is it on the business or on the public service? The Murdoch case exposed the lengths to which some would go to win readership and maximize profits, even if it meant badly compromising journalistic ethics.

These are difficult times for the industry, and newspapers need every dollar they can get - but not if it means sacrificing integrity and trust. That's why this and other American mainstream newspapers remain dedicated to certain basic principles. For example, reporters and editors must not:

Lie, mislead or knowingly publish mistruths from others.

Misrepresent themselves in their work.

Use illegal means to obtain information.

News of the World went off the deep end, as have other British papers. Reporters and editors made conscious decisions to break the law and hack phones. Some deliberately misled the public afterward.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/28/3042104/murdoch-case-shows-where-us-british.html#ixzz1U63ocqqB