ethics
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Full Sail University *
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Philosophy
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Jan 9, 2024
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Uploaded by SuperHumanOwl3882
Article Title: ‘Here’s the truth. We don’t know’: How false reports of Boston bombing arrest left media outlets scrambling
Location of Article: National Post
Date Published: April 17, 2013
1.
What ethical issues were raised by the article?
a.
For me, the biggest ethical issue raised by the events was the continued reliance on anonymous sources without doing any independent confirmations. These are global news organizations and none of them seemed to bother with independently confirming these claims. I get that essentially each news event is a new race to beat the other stations in being the “first to break news” but it seems that more stations are concerned with being first instead of being accurate. 2.
Your reaction to the ethical issues raised by the information in the article?
a.
I’m not surprised at all. Misreporting based on anonymous
sources happens on essentially every newsworthy event and major news events tend to exacerbate this issue of “first, first, first.” With local stations facing budget cuts and cutting down on reporters, I can understand the lack of independently confirming a claim from an anonymous source before going to air with it. However there’s no excuse with these major global news organizations. They have the resources to try to confirm claims; it just gets overlooked in the race to be first. 3.
Play devils advocate, what opposing view could be expressed?
a.
Law enforcement officials work for the public and the public has the right to know and keep tabs on what law enforcement agencies are doing, especially when that information is regarding the public’s health and safety. With that being said, these anonymous law enforcement officials could have been told or were under the impression that an arrest had been made due to a lack of communication or miscommunication between the numerous law enforcement agencies that responded to the
event.
4.
What is your opinion about the issue, and what caused you to form that opinion?
a.
Relaying information from public officials and law enforcement officials is fine so long as you don’t assume that information is solid and you don’t present that information as solid. Always tell viewers that you are
either a) working to independently confirm the information or b) you can’t independently confirm the information meaning no one will go on record confirming the information. One thing my news director stresses to our news department is to try to avoid anonymous reporting, but if anonymous is all you can get, take it and take with a grain of salt.
5.
How could using a balance in research and reporting tactics have made a difference in the outcome of what was reported?
a.
Megyn Kelly put it best when she told viewers “Here’s the truth: We don’t know … We just want to be transparent with you on the information that is coming in a breaking news situation that seems to be anything but clear at this moment.” News organizations have a responsibility to disseminate information during critical moments when public safety is at risk, but at the same time, reporters should be working to confirm and verify that information. Had news organizations shown restraint in relying on anonymous unconfirmed claims from law enforcement officials, the initial few hours after the bombing wouldn’t have been so chaotic. The public didn’t know what to believe because some news reports said a suspect had been arrested while others reported that there hadn’t been an arrest. Let’s not forget the New York Post’s infamous “bag men” cover with the headline “Feds seek these two pictured at Boston Marathon” implying the two men featured were the bombers (the men were later proven innocent).
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