Ethical dilemma:
Using inside information from a friend
July 2007
You're a journalist who recently attended party with a good friend - a public servant working at a senior level in government. Your friend had too much to drink and you offered to drive her home.
During the course of the journey, the friend begins to talk about the actions of a circle of corrupt officials operating within her department. Unfortunately, your friend friend feels that she has been compromised by turning a blind eye to the corruption in favour of a quiet life.
A few days later your boss asks you to follow up on a lead pointing to this same 'circle of corrupt officials'. It seems that a rival newspaper has discovered the bare essentials of a big story about this issue and are likely to take it to print soon.
Circulation and advertising revenue for your paper is down and you know that your position is at risk if things don't improve. You are concerned about how you will make ends meet if you are unable to prove yourself as a journalist to secure your job.
Should you warn your friend? Should you use your friend to get inside knowledge and a better story?
Ethical questions:
- What are the issues?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What should you do?
- What would you do?
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