Cherubs discuss journalism scandal at Sun-Times

By Lisa Silverman

As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20.  Take Robert Feder, a Chicago Sun-Times columnist, who communicated this lesson when Northwestern High School Institute students visited him at the Sun-Times on a field trip. A group of 30 students visited the newspaper and fortuitously came on a day when Feder’s exclusive interview with Amy Jacobson, a former NBC reporter, appeared on the front page. 

Jacobson had become embroiled in scandal after she was video-taped bikini-clad in a source's backyard, where her children were swimming in his pool. The source was Craig Stebic, a man whose estranged wife had recently gone missing. Jacobson had spent weeks covering the story and trying to coax information from Stebic. She told Feder she ended up at his house after she got a call from Stebic's sister asking her come over immediately for an interview.

A rival television station aired the footage of Jacobson, who was subsequently fired from NBC.

Feder's account of his interview with Jacobson told a story of remorse and regret. Jacobson admitted that if she had another chance, she would have proceeded differently and would have thought about how her actions might have been perceived.

Cherubs were excited to learn how Feder used his sources and his credible reputation to get an exclusive interview with a woman who was making headlines across the nation. They reveled in the frenzy of a bustling newsroom and saw what it's like to be praised for good work. 

“It was really exciting to be in the middle of breaking news,” said Alexa Fogler, a cherub from Cincinnati, Ohio. “I learned that journalism is really about connections and who you know, especially when you’re on a beat.”

Cherubs also learned that journalism takes patience, but that no matter how much a reporter may want the story, the appearance of impropriety can ruin careers.

“It takes a long time to establish yourself and build relationships with people,” said Eric Mayo, a cherub from New York City. “It’s important to lean to keep your distance from your subjects, too.” 

Feder emphasized that reporters are often put in challenging situations, but must be careful when making decisions to get the best story possible without compromising integrity.

“Journalism is a search for truth,” said NHSI instructor John Kupetz, paraphrasing a French philosopher. “You always seek the truth, but you never trust anyone who has said, ‘I’ve found it.’”