MEDIA ETHICS | POINTS TO PONDER | Freedom Doctama

Do you think that controversial stories should be published if the source demands
anonymity? Accusations towards a company/public figure? Why/Why Not?

● In my opinion, whether controversial stories should be published when the source

demands anonymity, especially when they involve accusations towards a company or
public figure, is a complex ethical dilemma. There are valid arguments on both sides of
this issue.
● On one hand, protecting the identity of the source can be essential in situations where
the person fears retaliation or has legitimate concerns about their safety.
Whistleblowers, for example, often rely on anonymity to expose wrongdoing without
putting their careers, or even their lives, in jeopardy. In such cases, it may be morally
and ethically justified to publish the story to shed light on the issue at hand and protect
the source.
● So, the decision to publish a controversial story with an anonymous source should be
made after carefully weighing the potential public interest, the credibility of the
information, and the risks involved. Journalistic integrity and a commitment to the truth
should always be at the forefront of such decisions, while also recognizing the
importance of protecting those who seek to expose wrongdoing.

WHAT IS JOURNALISM?

● Journalism is storytelling with a purpose. It should do more than gather an audience or

catalogue the important. It must balance what readers know they want with what they
cannot anticipate but need.
● Journalism carries with it a responsibility to improve the quality of debate by providing
verified information and intellectual rigor. A forum without regard for facts fails to
inform and degrades rather than improves the quality and effectiveness of citizen
decision-making.

WHO IS A JOURNALIST?

● A person whose job is to collect news, and write about it in newspapers or magazines
or talk about it on television or radio.
● Journalists rely on a professional discipline for verifying information.
● Conveys a fair and reliable account of their meaning, subject to further investigation.
● Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods so
audiences can make their own assessment of the information.
● Strives to put the public interest – and the truth – above their own self-interest or
assumptions.
● Journalists have an obligation to protect this watchdog freedom by not demeaning it in
frivolous use or exploiting it for commercial gain.
REFERENCES:

American Press Institute. (2022, August 24). The elements of journalism - American Press
Institute.
https://americanpressinstitute.org/journalism-essentials/what-is-journalism/elements-jo
urnalism/
JOURNALIST definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary. (2023). In Collins
Dictionaries.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/journalist#:~:text=journalist%20%2
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t%20is%20a%20person%20whose%20job%20is%20to%20collect,it%20on%20televisi
on%20or%20radio.