Media Ethics Dilemma Simulation

Objective: To encourage critical thinking and decision-making regarding ethical dilemmas in media writing
and reporting.

Kameel Stanley, the subject of this chapter’s Frontline Media Writing Profile, is a reporter and podcast
producer with St. Louis Public Radio. She spends much of her time out in communities and neighborhoods
talking with the people behind her stories. Here are some ethics principles she’s developed along the way:

Be sensitive. “In my job, I talk to people about many sensitive things, such as speaking with parents about how
their child is getting suspended from school. If the story is extremely sensitive, I’ll ask myself, ‘Is it wrong to
use only a first name?’ Maybe not.”

Explain it to sources. “When I am out there talking to real people, I need to make sure they understand the
ramifications behind a story in the media. I want them to understand they are talking to me, what that means,
and who could read the story.”

Online is forever. “If I am asking someone to talk to me about how they or their children have been
discriminated against, for example, I have to be very careful. What happens in five years if someone runs a
Google search on that person and finds them in my story?”

No surprises. “When I am doing an investigative story, I’m not out there to play ‘gotcha’ with my sources. At
the Tampa Bay Times, I worked on a story about how police were ticketing more black bicyclists. We gave the
police department weeks to respond. We didn’t just surprise them with a ‘gotcha’ story.”

1. What kinds of journalistic ethical dilemmas can you identify in the following scenarios? How might you
address them based on the approaches outlined in this chapter?

Scenario 1. The journalist, Sarah, is dating a candidate, Mark, running for a high-profile political office. She
has been covering Mark's campaign as part of her job. Mark's campaign has become a major news story, and
Sarah is conflicted about how to maintain objectivity in her reporting. Mark is unaware of Sarah's role as a
journalist.

Sarah has bias and Mark is not aware of her role. Sarah needs to tell Mark and get a different story to cover.

Scenario 2. An editor, Alex, is overseeing a story about a recent environmental protest. The news outlet's
management suggests embellishing the story with dramatic language and visuals to increase viewership, even if
it exaggerates the protest's impact. Alex values accuracy but faces pressure to sensationalize the coverage.
The news outlet is not being accurate and honest. Alex should not agree to sensationalize the coverage, and
instead make the story more engaging with interviews.

Scenario 3: Investigative reporter, Emily, receives an anonymous email containing documents that appear to
expose corruption within a major corporation. The sender claims to be a whistleblower with access to internal
records. Emily must verify the authenticity of the documents without revealing the source's identity.
Reporting on a National Security Leak:

Emily needs to verify the source before taking further action. She needs to protect her source’s identity
while discussing it with her editor.

Scenario 4: Investigative journalist, James, receives a leaked classified government document that exposes
potential wrongdoing at a high level. The document contains sensitive information that, if published, could pose
a risk to national security. James grapples with whether to report on the leak and how to handle the classified
information.

James needs to contact a legal expert regarding this information to verify the information first.

Scenario 5: A public relations professional, Sophia, works for a pharmaceutical company. She is asked to
promote a new drug with potentially severe side effects without fully disclosing the risks to the public. Sophia is
torn between her professional obligations and ethical responsibility to provide accurate information to
consumers.

Sophia needs to remain ethical and disclose the severe side effects or not do the story

Scenario 6: A news organization has signed a significant advertising deal with a technology company. The
same company's products are frequently covered in the news section. The newsroom faces ethical challenges in
maintaining impartial reporting while benefiting from the advertising deal.
The newsroom either needs to no longer include that company in the news section or disclose in that section
that they work with the company.

Scenario 7: A photojournalist, Carlos, captures a compelling image during a protest. To make the image more
impactful, he enhances certain elements and colors in post-processing, making it appear more intense than the
actual scene. Carlos must decide whether to publish the edited photo or disclose the modifications.

Carlos must disclose the modifications to remain ethical and honest.

Scenario 8: A social media manager, Lily, moderates a corporate social media account. She notices an
anonymous user repeatedly posting offensive and harassing comments under the company's posts. Lily must
decide how to address the issue, protect the brand's image, and maintain a positive online community.

Lily should block and report the user.

Scenario 9: A documentary filmmaker, Max, is creating a film about a controversial political figure. During
editing, Max faces the dilemma of whether to omit certain statements that portray the figure in a negative light,
even if those statements are factually accurate. Max must decide how to balance storytelling with ethical
representation.

Max should remain ethical and unbiased by telling the truth.