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Conflicts of Interests in Recent Events
A reporter from a local news station in Alaska has been causing headlines for a major conflict of interest. Carlo Greene had been covering a proposition coming in November to make medical marijuana legal in Alaska for several stories. She had interviewed several members from a support group named the Alaska Cannabis Club. Yet it turns out Greene is the owner of the club. Then during a segment over the story, Greene quit on air and dropped an expletive in the process. The video of the segment can be seen here. The admission of her ownership was shocking, and the cursing on air was unprofessional to say the least. It is clear that Greene is in support of medical marijuana, but she should have known better to get her own views involved with her reporting and certainly should have found other sources to interview rather than members from her own club. I do agree that quitting was the right thing to do after it was discovered, however, the terms of how she quit was not the proper way to go. Her personal stake in the matter not only reflected poorly on Greene, but also on her colleagues. It doesn't just affect her, but also the station and everyone who works there. The reporter who came on the screen after her abrupt leaving was put in an awkward place. Greene didn't go out without an explanation though. In the clip below, Greene explains why she quit.
Where is the Line Drawn?
It would seem practical that the line between ethical reporting and conflict of interests would be easy to see, but perhaps not. Maybe the line journalists try not to cross when reporting is a lot more blurry than we think. The simplest way to say what not to do: journalists should not report on something that they have a personal stake in. If there is a topic they feel very passionate about, journalists should have their editor find another reporter to cover it. It may be hard to resist, but it is the best way to avoid bias. Reporters should also avoid interviewing sources that they personally know or have a connection with. These sources could heavily reflect the reporter's own views and opinions. If the best source for the story is someone the journalist knows, they should navigate the situation carefully. Personal questions should be avoided, or the reporter may even be wise to seek guidance from an editor.
How to Fight Potential Conflicts of Interests
Many Americans don't trust the media because of what they perceive as bias by the news outlets. Luckily, there are ways we can try to change this and gain their trust back. In an article from About News, journalism expert Tony Rogers lists six ways journalists can avoid conflicts of interests. Many seem like common sense, but they are a good reminder to journalists about what might seem like innocent relations could have serious consequences. Before an article is published or a broadcast is aired, journalists should stop to think about whether it is biased, is a conflict of interests and if it is worth their careers if it is.
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