The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Is it ever okay for journalists to lie to get a story?

  • Written by Andrea Carson, Associate Professor, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University
Is it ever okay for journalists to lie to get a story?

In a time of falling trust[1] in the news media, it is vital journalists do not engage in news-gathering methods that further harm their credibility. Thanks to the rise of social media, misinformation and disinformation are rampant. Trust in news matters, so we can tell fact from fiction. Without it, democracy suffers.

In our new book, Undercover Reporting, Deception and Betrayal in Journalism, we ask whether deception is ever an acceptable method for journalists to use. In other words, is it ever okay to lie to a target to get a story?

We find it can be ethically justifiable under very specific conditions. We offer a six-point checklist for journalists (and the audience) to test if deception and betrayal are warranted.

Deception is one of the most common ethical problems in journalism. It ranges in seriousness from misrepresentation to the use of undercover reporting.

In fact, it is so common that some argue it is inherent in what journalists do. The late American writer and journalist Janet Malcolm, for instance, in her renowned book The Journalist and the Murderer[2], said in her opening paragraph:

Every journalist who is not too stupid or too full of himself [sic] to notice what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensible. He is a kind of confidence man, preying on people’s vanity, ignorance, or loneliness, gaining their trust, and betraying them without remorse.

While we argue Malcolm pushes her argument too far, we present a range of case studies that show not only the range of deceptive practices in contemporary journalism, but also their seriousness.

Three of the case studies are drawn from high-profile undercover operations or acts of deception.

One concerns the use by Cambridge Analytica[3] of data gathered by Facebook on 87 million of its users worldwide. These data were used to influence elections in several countries, including the United States in 2016.

Another involved the infiltration by Al Jazeera[4] of the National Rifle Association in the US. It then repeated this with the One Nation party in Australia in 2019.

The third case is the deception and betrayal inflicted on thousands of innocent people in Britain by Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World newspaper in hacking their mobile phones. This is perhaps the most egregious example of journalists failing their ethical duty in Britain in the past century.

From our examination of these cases, including interviews with key journalists, and building on the work of two distinguished American journalists and scholars, Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel[5], we developed our six-point framework for assessing the ethical justification for the use of undercover techniques, including those of masquerade and entrapment.

Read more: Hacking trial verdict: Coulson guilty and Brooks cleared, but end of an era for the red tops[6]

Using this test, we concluded that the operation against Cambridge Analytica was ethically justified. It told the public important truths that we would not otherwise have known. The most notable of these was that Cambridge Analytica was in the business of interfering in sovereign elections – a direct threat to democratic wellbeing.

News of the World hacking the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler is an example of when deception in journalism is completely unjustifiable. Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA/AAP

But we also find that the operations against the NRA and One Nation were not justifiable; nor in any way could the phone hacking of celebrities and ordinary citizens such as the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler[7] ever be justified to produce stories for News of the World.

Our framework consists of these six questions:

  1. Is the information sufficiently vital to the public interest to justify deception?

  2. Were other methods considered and was deception the only way to get the story?

  3. Was the use of deception revealed to the audience and the reasons explained?

  4. Were there reasonable grounds for suspecting the target of the deception was engaged in activity contrary to the public interest?

  5. Was the operation carried out with a risk strategy so it would not imperil a formal investigation by competent authorities?

  6. Did the test of what is “sufficiently vital” to the public interest include an objective assessment of harm or wrongdoing?

We consider a further case study to look at other aspects of deception and betrayal.

It concerns the deceptive conduct that goes under the general name of “hybrid journalism”. This is where advertising is presented in a way that is difficult to distinguish from news.

It goes under a variety of names such as “branded content”, “sponsored content” or “native advertising”. More recently, another label has come into fashion: “From our partners”. Reputable platforms use typography that distinguishes this from news content, but less reputable ones make it difficult to discern one from the other.

Journalists also engage in a range of more everyday deceptive practices. These include failing to declare oneself as a journalist; attempting to ingratiate oneself with a person by feigning a romantic interest in them; agreeing to publish information known to be untrue in order to serve the interests of a valued source; and ambushing a subject by having a microphone open or a camera rolling when the subject has no reason to think they are being recorded.

As these case studies show, deception and betrayal in journalism take many forms, and the ethical decisions surrounding them are far from straightforward. However, they are not inherent to the practice of journalism. Whether they are justifiable must be closely scrutinised, because the public’s trust in the media is at stake.

References

  1. ^ falling trust (www.edelman.com.au)
  2. ^ The Journalist and the Murderer (www.penguinrandomhouse.com)
  3. ^ Cambridge Analytica (www.theguardian.com)
  4. ^ Al Jazeera (www.9news.com.au)
  5. ^ Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel (www.penguinrandomhouse.com)
  6. ^ Hacking trial verdict: Coulson guilty and Brooks cleared, but end of an era for the red tops (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ Milly Dowler (edition.cnn.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/is-it-ever-okay-for-journalists-to-lie-to-get-a-story-196358

The Times Features

Important things to consider before buying a new TV

The way that people live their everyday lives continues to evolve as new technology becomes available. Those who purchase a home are making what is likely to be one of their larg...

Cast vs. Minted Gold Bars: Key Differences Every Investor Should Know

Investing in gold bars is one of the most dependable ways of preserving one's wealth and diversifying one's portfolio. However, not all gold bars are minted equally. Understanding...

Understanding the Common Challenges Addressed by Child Psychologists

Parenting is challenging, especially when children have emotional, behavioural, or developmental problems. Child psychologists are experts who focus on dealing with such issues...

What to Expect in Cosmetic Clinics in Western Australia: Comprehensive Overview

Over the recent past, cosmetic clinics were popular since people sought a means of beautifying and building confidence. Western Australia has various high-class cosmetic clinics th...

Empowering Education: Flinders University Partners with The Missing Link for AI Training

The Missing Link, a leader in intelligent AI and automation solutions collaborates with Flinders University to deliver a bespoke Microsoft 365 Copilot training program. This part...

Maximizing Your Outdoor Adventures with the Right Bike Rack

With cycling becoming an increasingly popular activity across Australia, having the right gear is crucial for a seamless experience. A reliable bike rack plays a vital role in en...

Times Magazine

Top Tips for Finding a Great Florist for Your Sydney Wedding

While the choice of wedding venue does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to wowing guests, decorations are certainly not far behind. They can add a bit of personality and flair to the traditional proceedings, as well as enhancing the venue’s ...

Avant Stone's 2025 Nature's Palette Collection

Avant Stone, a longstanding supplier of quality natural stone in Sydney, introduces the 2025 Nature’s Palette Collection. Curated for architects, designers, and homeowners with discerning tastes, this selection highlights classic and contemporary a...

Professional-Grade Tactical Gear: Why 5.11 Tactical Leads the Field

When you're out in the field, your gear has to perform at the same level as you. In the world of high-quality equipment, 5.11 Tactical has established itself as a standard for professionals who demand dependability. Regardless of whether you’re inv...

Lessons from the Past: Historical Maritime Disasters and Their Influence on Modern Safety Regulations

Maritime history is filled with tales of bravery, innovation, and, unfortunately, tragedy. These historical disasters serve as stark reminders of the challenges posed by the seas and have driven significant advancements in maritime safety regulat...

What workers really think about workplace AI assistants

Imagine starting your workday with an AI assistant that not only helps you write emails[1] but also tracks your productivity[2], suggests breathing exercises[3], monitors your mood and stress levels[4] and summarises meetings[5]. This is not a f...

Aussies, Clear Out Old Phones –Turn Them into Cash Now!

Still, holding onto that old phone in your drawer? You’re not alone. Upgrading to the latest iPhone is exciting, but figuring out what to do with the old one can be a hassle. The good news? Your old iPhone isn’t just sitting there it’s potential ca...

LayBy Shopping