Smith chapter 10

Question 1

Explain the two faces of deception

Answer 1

active and passive

passive: no setting up of sting operations, simply do not identify themselves as reporters
active: actively deceiving

Question 2

the Chicago Sun times did not receive a Pulitzer for its expose of govt. inspectors why?

Answer 2

went into tavern business, called it Mirage, rigged tavern with prob. , built hideaways for photographers

• set up auditing team in the bar to uncover tax fraud by accountants
• press as a whole pays a price in credibility
• undercover reporting should be limited to extraordinary circumstance that would require a policy decision by the editor

Question 3

Explain Food Lion case

Answer 3

Diane Sawyer, ABC’s PrimeTime live

• unsanitary food practices
• get researcher hired and have her wear hidden camera, had to fake resume
• food lion stock dropped
• sued ABC said they committed fraud

Question 4

Smith states that the debate over undercover reporting centers on 5 questions
explain each

Answer 4

are hidden cameras being used to hype the story?
-can serve public service, but worried it’s just for hype (competition for audience)
do the ends justify the means
- if truth telling is value we hold dear, have to think hard before we are deceptive in pursuit of telling truth
are there privacy concerns
-reporters invade privacy in ethical sense: people think they are talking privately to employee or acquaintances
are hidden cameras the best way to get the story ?
- job is to inform not conceal, when will conventional tech. not work ?
how significant and widespread is the issue under investigation
-safeguards need to be built into technique so that it is only one part of investigation

Question 5

What are SPJ guidelines for deciding when deception is justified

Answer 5

when info obtained is of profound importance (vital public interest)
when all other alt. have been exhausted
when journalists involved are willing to disclose nature of deception and reason for it
when indiv. involved and their news org. apply excellence through outstanding craftmanship as well as commitment of time and funding needed to pursue story fully
when harm prevented outweighs any harm caused by act of deception
when journalists involved have conducted meaningful, collaborative, and deliberate decision making process in which they weigh

Question 6

criteria that cannot be used

Answer 6

winning a prize
getting story with less expense of time and resources
doing it because others already did it
the subjects of the story themselves unethical