Byline: Walter Goodman; Thursday, January 16, 1997; The New York Times;
Report: Undercover Journalism Debated
Tags: debate, ethics, Food Lion, undercover reporting
Article Links". . .This case puts reporters on notice that they had better stay away from undercover investigations, with or without cameras. Getting past company guards is not easy. If a reporter takes a job with the purpose of exposing practices a company would prefer to keep it to itself, must he now worry about being sued for breach of 'duty of loyalty' to the company he is out to expose? Does that apply, too, to whistle blowers, those real employees who tip off the reporter? Isn't the television program or the newspaper the reporter's true employer? Wouldn't it be a breach of duty of loyatly if he didn't do whatever he could to get the story? . . ."
Description:The negative ramifications of using the method of undercover reporting are discussed. The Food Lion exposé is being used as an example.
Rights: Access to online material.