Ethical quandaries For the enterprising journalist

Truth and consequences A release goes out about a major new study linking increased reported cases of depression in young men to online gaming. A newsroom editor assigns a reporter with the command: “Get me a depressed gamer.” The reporter does indeed find a young man through connections, sends him a text identifying her and her news organization and requesting an interview. He agrees to tell his story. The day after the piece is posted online and sent out on Twitter, the young man is called into his boss’s office at the company where he’s worked for five years as a security guard. His depression makes him a liability on the job, he’s told as he’s handed a pink slip. The young man did not anticipate his conversation with the reporter could have negative consequences. Should the reporter have advised him what could happen? -- From Canadian Association of Journalists report On the record: Is it really informed consent without discussion of consequences?

Off the record or fit to print? Your editor asks you to cover a conference on Canada-U.S. border security at a downtown hotel. You’re a little late so you don’t bother registering, and breeze inside the open door to catch most of the first panel session. A Public Safety official says some mildly newsworthy things. Suddenly, an organizer leans over, asks who you are, tells you the meeting is closed and requests that you leave. He insists you not report anything as participants were promised no media would be there. What do you do?

Prurient or public interest? Angered by the introduction of the government’s online surveillance bill, a Liberal research office staffer decides to turn the tables on Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. Since the bill would give police and spies more power to monitor people, the staff researcher decides people should know more about Toews. He creates a Twitter feed that sends out short bursts detailing allegations of infidelity and verbal cruelty spelled out in an affidavit from Toews’ divorce proceedings. What, if anything, should media report?

Tired and emotional You have an interview with your local MP at a restaurant. As the evening progresses, she orders a second drink. Then another. Pretty soon she is slurring her words and looking wobbly. Then she tells you what she thinks of her colleagues, party and leader – in the least flattering terms – as the recorder rolls. What do you do? Should you use the information?

Coffee, tea or scoop? You are travelling on an airplane, minding your own business. But you can’t help but notice the man in front of you is reading a federal cabinet document. It spells out choices for the government on reforming Old Age Security. They include scaling back this supplement, commissioning a study, and increasing payouts. Do you report the information?

Courier conundrum You are in strife-torn Sudan researching a story. In a tiny café in a desert village you happen upon a Foreign Affairs official. You have lunch. She shares some valuable context. At the end of the meal, she hands you an envelope and says it’s very important to Canada that it be dropped off at a house in the next town, many kilometres away, where you happen to be heading. Do you do it?

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