Editor’s note: Ian Hodge is a regular columnist for Business Reform Magazine, the leading Christian business magazine with over 100,000 readers. Each issue of Business Reform features practical advice on operating successfully in business while glorifying God.
For some of us, the recent admission of sloppy journalism at the New York Times from a young staff member, came as no surprise. Philosophically, many of us have difficulties with news and the manner in which it is reported. This writer has had his articles truncated, with the most important final paragraph omitted. Not by journalists, in one case, but by the lay-out artist in the basement who could not fit the article on the page, so he merely left off whatever would not fit. Now this did not happen to me at the New York Times, but it indicates a problem, and a real one at that.
So when the NYT came forward with recent admissions, some of us breathed a sigh of relief. Someone was at long last game enough to admit that at least one journalist didn’t bring professionalism to the editing table. Are there more? But probably no more than there are crooked cops, crooked clergymen, or crooked anything else.
But in the current climate where the older Christian view of life and people is no longer prevalent, and man, rather than God, is to be his own savior, the effect on those who are less than perfect in this world is noticeable.
For many of us the admission by the newspaper was a revelation in itself. One of the leading newspapers in the world admits to its own mistakes ? with an apology to its readers for the misleading articles it had published. Not that it published that many things that were entirely wrong. It’s just that a young journalist took the easy way to get stories.
Not content with admissions of error, however, two senior editors “resigned” as a result of poor management of the journalist concerned. So the readership of the New York Times can be assured that the remaining staff will provide pure and unsullied reports of local and world events.
When salvation is seen as a product of man rather than God, it is interesting how mortals who makes errors of judgement are treated. In our desire to save ourselves, it is easy to make sure those who are less than perfect pay for their “sins”. This, after all, is the result of man-made salvation. Without someone else paying the penalty for our sins it is imperative we pay that price ourselves.
In the world of business and politics, it is increasingly noticeable that those who are less than perfect need to make atonement for their waywardness. And while we do not condone the mistakes people make, neither do we condone the treatment of those who did not make the mistakes themselves but were close enough to get tagged as the fall guys.
If we expect perfection in this life from our employees, even senior ones, we will be bitterly disappointed. Rather, we should expect that the fallenness of human nature will bring with it mistakes of varying degrees, and perhaps we would serve our fellow man better if we took some steps to help him before problems arise rather than kick him out on the street afterwards.
This is just a thought. And maybe just a little more thoughtful way to treat our fellow workers, employees, employers, and others.
Ian Hodge and Business Reform are able to offer a range of services that will educate business owners in all aspects of management, services that include our very own do-it-at-home (or at the office) study material. The first series of lessons on finance is now available. For further information, send an email to [email protected]. Learn to develop and maintain management practices that will give your business every chance of success.
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