The Problem of Personal Ethics
Personal ethics are typically thought of as a bonus in most situations. An ethical person does the right thing for the right reasons. He or she can always be counted on to give advice that will lead the wayward soul back on the straight and narrow path. The ethical person is the go-to-guy or gal with the answers to life’s persistent questions.
However, what happens when those ethics get in the way of one’s job. For newspaper people, this can be a real concern. When is it appropriate, if ever, to turn down a story if the ethical implications are such that doing the story in the way an editor wants it done would pose a problem for one’s moral well-being? Can a reporter legitimately detach himself or herself from the ethical problems of a story, and if so, is it right to do so in the first place?
This is the question I raised in a blog post this semester regarding Harry Potter. My problem with the way the story has been covered is that not everyone agrees with the premise that the films and books are a good influence on children. I happen to believe that they are morally reprehensible pieces of pop-culture trash that present a negative example for children and promote an interest in the occult. This is the story that doesn’t get told, and it’s precisely the one I believe needs to be.
I initially drew fire from several bloggers who felt the issue was off-topic. My concern, once again, was that not enough coverage is given to this aspect of the issue. Eventually I won the respect of some of those same individuals, if not their agreement.
Ultimately, I think reporter’s have to make their ethics a very real part of how and when they cover a topic. Otherwise we risk simply becoming an echo chamber for the master narratives everyone else is espousing.
