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.

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.

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.

Emotional assumptions – scenario

In this scenario a journalist lets their own emotional assumptions colour their news judgement resulting in misinformation.

Image by ioerror / Jacob Appelbaums released via Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0

Privacy protection – scenario

You are working on the online news desk of a large media organisation. News breaks of fighting overseas. Raw footage arrives showing identifiable dead bodies. What do you 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 to illustrate conflict of interest - created using Imagen 3 by David Brewer of MHM

Scenario: Conflict of interests

In this scenario you are a political correspondent working for a national public service broadcaster. A lobbying company offers you a significant amount of money to train lobbyists in how to influence the media. What do you do?

Transparency and full disclosure – scenario

In this scenario a reporter embedded with the military and closely monitored in a war zone wanders off and discovers a story the army wouldn't want him to tell.

Image by Birdy released via Creative Commons CC BY 2.0

Interviewing integrity – scenario

In this scenario, an award-winning journalist is offered a top job at national TV station, but soon after starting her new job she discovers corruption in the media house.