My First Professional Ethical Dilema

My First Professional Ethical Dilema

Today WSYR, and myself, were presented with an ethical dilemma. Should we air photos, obtained from state police, of a two-year old being forced to smoke marijuana?

They had newsworthy value, as state’s evidence in a case of shocking child abuse, but they were also haunting images that the child could not have fought back against.

You can read the resulting story and my boss’s official comment here. I only realized what had just transpired after the management decided to post a explanation of their actions. Dear Newhouse School, here is a new case study.