Read the scenario.

Question

A pilot is being investigated after an air-traffic accident
led to many passengers being injured and hospitalized.
Reports about a cover-up by the airline are surfacing.
and people have accused the pilot of negligence.
The editor-in-chief of the local newspaper has just
assigned the story to the most experienced
investigative reporter in the newsroom. However, the
reporter's uncle is the pilot being investigated. No one
in the newsroom knows about this connection.

What is the most ethical course of action the reporter
could take?

A. investigate the claims without revealing that the pilot
is her uncle; the fact that he is a relative will not
affect her reporting

B. tell the editor-in-chief about her relationship to the
pilot, and ask that the story be assigned to another
reporter

C. convince the editor-in-chief not to run the story,
because the reporter knows that her uncle is a
skilled pilot and believes that the allegations are
false

D. research and write the article, but have a colleague
edit it before it is submitted to make sure there are
no signs of bias

Answer 1

The most ethical course of action the reporter could take is:

B. tell the editor-in-chief about her relationship to the pilot, and ask that the story be assigned to another reporter.

This choice maintains journalistic integrity by being transparent about a potential conflict of interest. It ensures that the investigation is conducted fairly and impartially, without any bias that could arise from the reporter’s personal relationship with the subject of the investigation. It also allows the newsroom to handle the story with another reporter who can approach it without familial ties.