Scenarios

Our ethical scenarios present real-world dilemmas that test editorial judgement and professional values. These challenging case studies involve conflicts of interest, privacy considerations, source protection, and difficult editorial decisions that journalists encounter daily. All material is free to download, adapt and use. Scroll down our site map for all the content in this and other sections.

Scenarios

Accuracy – scenario

Scenarios

Editorial impartiality – scenario

Scenarios

Covering a tragedy – scenario

Image by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0

Testing boundaries – scenario

In this scenario we look at a situation where an editor faces breaking protocol because of the strength of a story.

Image by Rob Swystun released via Creative Commons CC BY 2.0

Informed consent – scenario

In this scenario a reporter covering a disaster films a grief-stricken woman before discovering the facts about the ordeal she has witnessed.

Image by Army Medicine released via Creative Commons CC BY 2.0

Editorial impartiality – scenario

In this scenario a reporter covering a story about medical malpractice in a hospital discovers that the consultant involved is a relative. What should they do?

Image of trespass notice copyright Albert Bridge released under this Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0

Trespass and journalism – scenario

In this scenario we look at a situation where a journalist is faced with breaking the law in order to gather essential information for informing the public debate.

Image by Media Helping Media released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Emotional pressure – scenario

How should a reporter respond when someone uses emotional pressure and threats to try to stop them doing their job?

Image byasenat29 shared via Creative Commons

Journalistic integrity – scenario

In this scenario a political correspondent working for a broadcaster is asked to speak at an event organised by a political party - but there is a catch.

Journalism training in Vietnam - image by Media Helping Media

Withholding information – scenario

In this scenario a journalist comes across information that changes the focus of a story the editor had asked them to write. Should they include it or withhold it.