Situation Described
A recent case I reviewed had several accounts of conflict of interest, including fabrication and deception. Not only did this reporter make fake claims on peoples lives but he cowardly names his former girlfriend as the mastermind, after their breakup. This was all an attempt to harass her and decimate her character. The former reporter for “The Intercept” named Juan Thompson of St. Louis had called over 100 times making bomb threats to the Jewish community. Thompson would them frame his ex girlfriend at the time for the crime, giving them her full name and where she lived. “In one case, Thompson allegedly emailed the Anti Defamation League naming his girlfriend as the suspect, a day before the ADL received a bomb threat at its office.” He also used social media to claim his ex made the treats and tweeted about the events, which made him look even more guilty.
Analysis
This brings intense ethical issues to mind when it comes to being a journalist. Journalists are drilled constantly about the rules of honesty and credibility. It puzzles me why a reporter, knowing how powerful tips and media conscription is, would use those resources to get revenge for a break-up. He had to know once he got caught that he would be fired, so why go to such extremes. Making bomb threats is illegal and a very serious accusation to frame someone for. This would leave no credibility behind Thompson’s name at all.
“Thompson is facing a charge of cyber stalking, which carries up to a five year prison term. He allegedly sent defamatory messages to the victim’s employer, made threats in her name and falsely accused her of crimes. Thompson was fired from the investigative journalism website in February of 2016 after he allegedly fabricated quotes and sources.” Juan Thompson had to be aware of the consequences of his actions prior because of his profession. If anyone knows how powerful the media is, it would be reporters and journalists.
Scholarly Sources
One scholarly article I found brushed up on the facts of “Ethical Gaps and Gains” in journalism. “Plagiarism and fabrication are important areas to study partly because they are often overlooked in mass communication research, in favor of more nuanced ethical questions. Journalists and educators know that plagiarism and fabrication are major ethical violations, but less is known about what students think about plagiarism and fabrication. In addition, because these two ethical breaches are more closely aligned with journalism careers than other vocations taught in journalism and mass communication programs, it is important to investigate whether all students agree on the severity of the ethical violation and what possible penalties should be imposed for those who plagiarize or fabricate. Though the rules are often over looked, that does not mean that the crime committed does not go unpunished.
References
- http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/03/former_intercept_reporter_fire.html
- Conway, M., & Groshek, J. (2008). Ethics gaps and ethics gains: Differences and similarities in mass communication students’ perceptions of plagiarism and fabrication. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 63(2), 127-145. Retrieved from http://ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/docview/215287855?accountid=13158