Jeffrey Dvorkin Says Ombuds Must Adapt

Jeffrey Dvorkin, the Executive Director of the Organization of News Ombudsmen, says that the Occupy Wall Street movement presents a unique opportunity for Ombuds. Dvorkin observes that Ombuds of all types help create cultures of trust, candor and accountability. In particular, he acknowledges that, "value of corporate ombudsmen is evident: ombudsmen can act as an early warning system when financial and media organizations lose their sense of obligation to shareholders and/or the public." Nonetheless, he says, more needs to be done.

Ombudsmen will need to be more pro-active, and more willing to identify the failings and weaknesses of media, banks, universities and governments. This may be a more vigorous and activist form of ombudsmanship than we have seen in the past. But the past, it is said, is another country. We are in a much different place these days and ombudsmen need to acknowledge that.

His full post deserves a read by all Ombudsmen. (Now the Details.)


Related posts: More Thoughts on the Decline of News Ombuds; Organization of News Ombudsmen Director Argues for 'Cyberombudsmen'; Organization of News Ombudsmen Director Looks to the Future; Book Will Serve as Reference for News Ombuds.