Journalistic Integrity (Wednesday, March 22 - 6th period)

[imanaturalblond.livejournal.com]

Rita smiled.

"Pop quiz, of a sort," she said. "I'd like you to respond verbally to several different scenarios - these are actual questions that many journalists are asked before they're hired. There are no right answers, per se."

Comments

Scenario 3

[imanaturalblond.livejournal.com]

Should a reporter write a story about a local priest who confessed to a sex crime if it will cost the newspaper readers and advertisers who are sympathetic to the priest?

Re: Scenario 3

[likeguidelines.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely," Barbossa said. "That be news. Screw the advertisers."

Re: Scenario 3

[pyramid-is-life.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Kara replies. "If no one wrote anything because they were worried about losing readers or advertisers, nothing interesting would get printed."

Re: Scenario 3

[janet_fraiser]

"Chances are quite good that he'll be a registered sex offender anyway," said Janet. "I don't see why it'd be wrong to spread the news. If people are sympathetic to someone who's a confessed criminal, well, they should learn to thicken their skins to a little offense."

Re: Scenario 3

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"If he confessed, then people deserve to know about his crime," Veronica said.

Re: Scenario 3

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Yes, after all, we have to think of the children."

Re: Scenario 3

[janet_fraiser]

"It would be for the sake of Justice?" asked Janet, in a quietly bemused murmur.

Re: Scenario 3

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Naturally," Callisto replied. "You just have to ask yourself, What Would Bugs Do?"

Re: Scenario 3

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

"Depends on how many. Not much use to work for a newspaper that has no constituents."

Re: Scenario 3

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"Yes. The public deserves to know, they'll found out anyway, and it'll make a good story." Alanna paused for a second. "Ew."

Re: Scenario 3

[mycanonhatesme]

"If anyone is still sympathetic to the priest after reading the story, the newspaper shouldn't care about their readership or their money, because they are clearly screwed in the head."