EDIT: It looks like there’s a strong possibility that McBride and Flynn’s affair took place after the article was done and edited.  If so, that would seem to take away a lot of the “journalistic ethics” complaints in this post.

Jessica McBride, a 39-year-old journalism lecturer at UW-Milwaukee, and Ed Flynn, the 61-year-old Milwaukee Chief of Police, had an affair according to this morning’s Journal Sentinel.  Normally I think affairs of the heart would be their business, but here’s the thing – McBride (who, I believe, has once linked to this illustrious site) once wrote a glowing article for the guy!

Needless to say, that’s not exactly responsible journalism.

Here are some quotes from supposed e-mails between the two:

“Perceived you instantly – knew you were a good person who does things for the right reason…As a result, I began to struggle with the story – having to give time to vitriolic baseless attacks.  [This one was signed Jessica]

…

I think there was something from the moment we locked eyes in [MPD spokeswoman] Anne’s [Schwartz] office

…

Just felt a little protective.  Knew I didn’t want to do you wrong [I'm assuming this was re: the article]

…

I honestly had myself almost convinced that we were going to talk about the police department at [Brocach Irish Pub/Restaurant] last night!  Now that sounds so naive.  But something special happened between us that night; I will always cherish it.  A complete meeting on all levels – mind, body, heart that I have never experienced.  You completed me that night.

Not to make any mention that McBride also apparently steals her romantic prose from the movie “Jerry Maguire,” normally this would be the kind of thing I wouldn’t want to touch.  If you’re having an affair, that’s really you and your family’s business.  Unless, of course, you’re the President having an affair in the White House, or have some other public function that isn’t supposed to be disturbed by personal, romantic feelings.

You know, like journalism.  Guess one of the things McBride teaches at UW-Milwaukee!  Are you ready?  I hope you’re sitting down.

Journalistic ethics!

Get it?  Because that’s the exact opposite of – oh, you get it.

So I’m using this story to once again point out that while you may think you’re getting a high quality education at a public university, you’re sometimes getting taught about journalistic ethics by Jessica McBride, or economics from some Keynesian, or English by someone who thinks it’s a philosophy class.

By the way, Jessica McBride is something of a conservative, but we missed the warning sign that she was a failure as a journalist:  she taught journalism at a state university.