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 option demonstrates transparency and maintains journalistic integrity. The reporter's familial connection to the individual being investigated creates a potential conflict of interest, and disclosing this relationship allows the news organization to handle the situation appropriately. Assigning the story to another reporter would help ensure an impartial investigation and reporting process.