Whistleblower Intentions
Just as journalists may sometimes have unethical motivations for pursuing a story, whistleblowers can have unethical intentions for coming forward. Whistleblowing is not appropriate in the following scenarios: Sharing information that is not rooted in fact but based on a hunch, or sharing information without necessary context — It is crucial for a whistleblower to […]
Journalist-Whistleblower Relationships
Journalists are advised to maintain professional relationships with sources and to minimize all personal conversation or contact that could compromise the reporting process. Romantic or sexual relationships are considered to be particularly unethical and can jeopardize the credibility of both the journalist and the whistleblower. Example Journalist Christie Smyth was covering white-collar crime for Bloomberg […]
Important to Know
Knowing what information you should and should not share with the media is critical to having productive conversations that result in a well-told story. Therefore, a number of common misconceptions must be addressed: Anonymity is never 100% guaranteed Journalists can grant anonymity to a source who hopes to protect their identity when sharing information on […]
Standards
To work effectively with the press, a whistleblower must understand the ethical guidelines journalists are trained to follow. Standards vary by media outlet, but the following principles lay the groundwork for how reporters are expected to conduct themselves. Source: Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics Seek truth and accuracy. Above all else, ethical and […]
