Ethical quandaries For the enterprising journalist

A matter of national security? A former U.S. spy contractor leaks a document to you revealing that Canada’s Communications Security Establishment is conducting surveillance operations from the Canadian Embassy in Jordan. The intelligence agency is monitoring suspected terrorists as well as human rights advocates. When asked for comment, the Ottawa-based spy agency asks you not to run the story as the publicity could put Canadian soldiers in nearby Iraq at risk and even result in the embassy being shut down. 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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