Ms. Gokturk

Journalism

Case Studies on Ethical Dilemmas

Adapted from Introduction to Journalism

Based on how your group ranked your newspaper’s priorities, you now have to make some difficult decisions. Because of space limitation, you only have room for 5 stories.

• Choose what top five stories you will cover and
• Explain how you will cover it.
• For each, also indicate what problems you will face. Consider some of the problems that you might encounter, ethical questions, invasion of privacy issues (intrusion, public disclosure, false light, appropriation, + obscenity), and libel.
• Please indicate what you would do as reporters. Assume the newspaper is The Schreiber Times.

Story 1: Student caught drinking

The captain of the football team was ejected from the school dance on Friday for underage drinking. The student was found vomiting in a corner of the dance and passed out. He was also suspended.

Story 2: Pep Rally

The pep rally went well on Friday, though only half the student body was present. Those present were enthusiastic and roared with laughter when the boys’ soccer lacrosse team donned tights and danced.

Story 3: Underage drinking & sex

Rumor has it that several students were engaged in a sexual act over the weekend. Underclass females were allegedly lured with promises of liquor by upperclassmen to a house where the student’s parents away. The girls were pressured to engage in sexual activities for bottles of alcohol. One student is said to have photos, which he has circulated on the Internet.

Story 4: Opposed to film

Six members of a religious club for students want to publish their own articles opposing the release of an offensive film at the local theaters.

Story 5: Bomb threats

Dr. Banta admits there have been several phoned in bomb threats when he speaks to your staff, but he asks you not to print a story, feeling confident the threats are fake and wanting not to close down the school for the day to have it searched.

Story 6: Minority Voice

A group of minority students demand that your newspaper accept anything submitted by a minority student and aim at least 20 percent of the newspaper’s content to minority interests. Minority students comprise 20 percent of the student body.

Story 7: Teacher & AIDS

A teacher in your school is rumored to have AIDS, not pneumonia as announced. Later, she dies.

Case 8: Questionable Acts

Students can legally purchase condoms. The student store has begun selling them.

Case 9: Student Thievery

Two students, who operate a successful burglary ring, are willing to tell their story anonymously.

Case 10: Fake IDS

A student is selling fake ID cards, according to a student who shows you one. A reporter wants to go undercover with a tape recorder to buy a card so the newspaper can get the story.

Case 11: Ritalin Abuse

Students are rumored to be using Ritalin for recreational purposes and for help studying.

Case 12: R Rated Films

It is rumored that a student has written a letter to Dr. Banta, concerned about the R-Rated films that some teachers show during class time. He does not feel that underage students should be required as part of the curriculum to view sex, violence, or offensive language.