One of the main concerns is the relationship with Riley
Frederickson, who advises the Auto Club.
As a journalist, trying to avoid this story would look unprofessional;
however the challenge would be to present a line of questions and an article
that would not appear to be bias.
“Journalists should avoid conflict of interest, remain free of
associations and activities that may compromise their integrity or damage their
credibility.” (Jacquette, 2007, p.
283). The public has the right to know
where the funds are actually going, if the school is not using the funds in
accordance with the terms then it should be reported on. “The public’s right to know about matters of
importance is paramount. (Jacquette, 2007, p. 287). By providing the truth may cause an issue on
a personal matter, so long as I request an interview with Riley on a
professional level, there would be no need to avoid him.
As a journalist we should be aware of the ways in which
critical distance and objectivity in reporting the news can be jeopardized, if
we inform the editor of a possible issue.
They would be able to review the article for any bias before
publishing. For myself, if I approach
the story from a neutral position on where the funds are actually being spent,
and why the school would not adopt an auto repair course if there is an
interest. According to Jacquette (2007),
“if I cannot be expected to report objectively, then my truth telling
capabilities in the matter unavoidably come into question.” (p. 212).
Overall, I would proceed in a professional manner and provide the truth
to the public.
Reference
Jacquette, D. (2007).
Journalistic ethics: Moral responsibility in the media. Upper Saddle River:
Pearson Education, Inc.
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