USING DECEPTION TO GET THE NEWS

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USING DECEPTION TO GET THE NEWS
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POYNTER INSTITUTE GUIDELINES FOR JUSTIFYING
DECEPTION IN THE PURSUIT OF A NEWS STORY

• REPORTS MUST FULFILL ALL THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA
  TO JUSTIFY THE USE OF DECEPTION OR HIDDEN CAMERAS

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• 1. THE INFORMATION MUST BE OF PROFOUND
  IMPORTANCE.
• 2. ALL OTHER MEANS OF OBTAINING THE INFORMATION
  MUST BE EXHAUSTED.
• 3. REPORTERS MUST DISCLOSE THE NATURE OF THE
  DECEPTION AND THE REASON FOR IT.
• 4. THE HARM PREVENTED MUST OUTWEIGH ANY HARM THAT
  MIGHT BE CAUSED BY THE DECEPTION.

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KNAPPS ADDITION TO THE POYNTER LIST

• 5. THE WHOLE DATA SET MUST BE AVAILABLE TO
  SOMEONE OTHER THAN THOSE WHO USED THE HIDDEN
  CAMERAS