Question

Use the passage to answer the question.

A journalist finds out some damaging information about a city council member and has verified it from several credible sources. There is an upcoming election and this information could seriously affect the outcome.
What is the most ethical behavior for the journalist in this situation?

(1 point)
Responses

The journalist should report on the story since she would want to adhere to the first principle of ethical journalism.
The journalist should report on the story since she would want to adhere to the first principle of ethical journalism.

The journalist should avoid writing an article that would cause the city council member to be arrested.
The journalist should avoid writing an article that would cause the city council member to be arrested.

The journalist should write a positive report on the council member and then write a correction to the story with the new information.
The journalist should write a positive report on the council member and then write a correction to the story with the new information.

The journalist should contact the city council member and see if he will pay her not to report the stor

Answer 1

The most ethical behavior for the journalist in this situation is:

**The journalist should report on the story since she would want to adhere to the first principle of ethical journalism.**

This response aligns with the ethical responsibility of journalists to inform the public about significant information that may affect the democratic process, especially during an election.