Jefferey Wigand was once a prominent man in the tobacco
industry. He had a degree in Chemistry and was brought into Brown and
Williamson to do research on creating a safer cigarette. His research led him
find things that if found out by anyone outside of the company, could
jeopardize the profitability of the company. Wigand wrote many memos about the carcinogens
that cigarettes possessed and BW ignored his claims. He is called a whistle
blower for his segment on 60 minutes even though what he did was for the common
good of all people. As described in the movie, he was “compelled” to do what he
did, which is telling the world that nicotine is addictive. He is threatened,
intimidated and loses just about everything because of Brown and Williamson and
while carrying such a heavy burden, still told the world about the tobacco
industry’s secrets through the help of a CBS producer.
This
Insider is a phenomenal movie that really exemplifies the parallels between
journalists and a whistle blower. Wigand knew that the information he was aware
of was something that needed to be said. The type situation he was going
through was not only a situation of morality but it was exactly what a
journalist would be thinking; the world needs to know this information. What
the tobacco industry was doing was completely dishonest and was rightfully so,
deemed punishable. Henry Wigand looked passed what might happen to him if he
tells this information and instead does the humane thing. This action was very
similar to a journalist in that they are not leaving things out of an article
because if may negatively affect the image of a certain company. This is not
always the case, as The Insider showed.
The
60 Minute staff was in a way, threatened indirectly by the tobacco company
through CBS Corporate. They were told to not air the segment because it
infringes on an ongoing investigation. With such important information for
society to know, one would think that the people making millions at CBS would
neglect a lawsuit and air the show. These pieces of information that Wigand was
about to tell would change people attitudes about smoking forever yet they held
back because of a threat of being sued by the most powerful companies in the
world. It is evident that Wigand, and the staff at 60 Minutes went through the
same troubles while they were just trying to give people the news.
What
is the most interesting similarity between a whistle blower and a journalist is
that they are literally the same thing. The only difference is that journalist’s
have the connections to get the information out there very quick. When someone
wants to share something to the community about information inside of a
company, organization or even government, they are acting as a journalist.
While they may very well know it’s not their job, something inside of them is morally
compelling them to share the piece of knowledge.
To
me, it is very easy to feel bad for Jeffery Wigand. He did what he thought was
right and lost just about everything in his life because of some very selfish
people. Journalists do what Wigand did on a daily basis and will continue to
deliver objective stories that are necessary.
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