Ethics Assignment

1. When referring to the allegation that Mayor Jim West was pursuing underage boysonline, why do you think editor Steven Smith differentiated between a legitimate newsstory and one that is not legitimate when he said, "If he's [Mayor Jim West] engaged in this activity … we need to know that. If he's not -- there's no story"?
Editor Steven Smith said this because while the public may not be as heavily effected by exageration of celebrity behavior, a local politician can be seen as a reflection of that community. Also, if the Spokesman Review printed a story that ruined the Mayor's reputation, then found out his actions could not be proven, it would inevitably ruin their relationship with the Mayor and likely other associated local politicians. This is why they confirmed the Mayor's online identity.
2. How did reporter Bill Morlin justify the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com as partof The Spokesman-Review's and the FBI's "sting operation"? Why didn't Morlin himselfcreate the assumed identity to engage Mayor West online?
Bill Morlin justified the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com because they it could be legally proven. The newspaper's code of ethics was also a factor preventing them from creating their own fake identity. The online identity's age was controversial because the source who originally came to the newspaper was of age.
3. Why do you think The Spokesman-Review ultimately published so many articles on Mayor West's alleged improprieties?
The editor said the story was not about the Mayor being gay, but the Mayor's abuse of his position. The beginning of the video also said that Spokane residents are not accepting of their gay community, so clearly this story would be disturbing and scandolous (and therefore heavily followed) by the Spokesman Review readers.
4. In the final analysis, who benefited from The Spokesman-Review's decision to expose Mayor West and his alleged improprieties? Who was hurt? Do you think the outcome was worth it? Explain your reasoning.
The newspaper benefited much more than the community because there were no confirmed cases of him molesting children. This may be more of an opinion, but someone living a gay lifestyle does not effect the entire community. He did, however, abuse his powers. This abuse of power by offering the young man (online) an internship should be public information because he is an elected official. The outcome was worth it because if had abused young children, the public outcry would have led to investigations confirming this behavior.
5. The Spokesman-Review has been criticized as conducting a "witch hunt" in its reporting on the private lives of some city officials. Below is a link to another recent article on Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch. Do you think that there are any ethical problems in the reporting in this story? Why or why not?
I think that reporting on the private lives of public officials is fair game. This is due to the fact that their salaries are funded by public money and that they make the decisions that effect their community. Their behavior outside of work, while seemingly not related to their duties in-office, are unfortuantely the business of the public they are representing.