It’s no question that there are ethical issues surrounding journalists and the journalism in general. News bureaus are always looking for the ‘dirt’ on a story, what’s really behind the story, the ‘good stuff.’ But is this always a good thing? The business of Journalism requires commitment, to a story that is, and it’s evident that many journalists are committed to getting the story they want. However we must ask ourselves, are the tactics they’re using right?
Often times, news stories include something about race, color or culture. Something that realistically should not be included unless it’s important to the story. But to say that a black man was involved, why not just say a man? A story changes when an ethnicity is thrown in there. It’s almost as if a switch turns on and we, as viewers, are all of a sudden interested in the story.
But what about other details? The same thing applies here. Should we be reporting on their everyday lifestyle just because they are involved in a story? We should be reporting on the story itself and nothing else. If the reporter knows more, that’s great for the reporter, but maybe the details she knows should be kept to themselves. It’s not just about the ethics of Journalism, but it’s also about the respect for the individual that’s involved.
L.D.
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