Byline: Kathy English; 2010-10-09; Toronto Star;
Report: Retirement Home Investigation - Dale Brazao, Moira Welsh - Toronto Star
Tags: journalism ethics, undercover
Article Links"Did the end justify the means here? Did this exposé of the profound neglect Brazao witnessed meet the public interest test? I have no doubt this was the right course of action. This investigation met all of the thresholds journalism ethicists have laid down for undercover reporting: The information is vital to the public interest (particularly given the demographics of an aging population and a severe shortage of nursing home beds); there was no other way to get this story and know the conditions inside the home, and the nature of the deception was fully disclosed to readers. . ."
Description:Toronto Star public editor Kathy English discusses Dale Brazao's nursing home assignment and the ethics of going undercover.
Rights: Access to online material