Conflict of Interests

Tricia Tighe
pt636013@ohio.com

                                      Lesile Roberts who resigned from Global Television back in 2015. 

                                                                         Source: globalnews.ca

Back in 2015 a notable Canadian newscaster Lesile Roberts was caught in the middle of a conflict of interest scandal. He was known for being a newscaster and editor for Global Television but became suspend.

After finding out that Roberts was also a creative director and part owner of Buzz PR a prominent public relations agency. Some of their clients included non-profits, authors, small businesses and large corporations.

Roberts was validating the bridge between being a journalist and publicist which from an ethical stand point is a conflict of interest. This is an issue when clients can be on his show without the intention of being promoted.

According to AdWeek, Roberts claimed that he never featured his clients on his show or got offered extra money to give them airtime. In addition, he kept his dual roles as a secret from employers and viewers because he did not want his jobs to be exposed.

Roberts committed a volition for conflict of interests. This is a rising issue within the journalism community and is a large conversation for ethics.

There are some ways that a journalist can avoid getting involved in too many obligations that overlap. For example, getting gifts as a way of extending payment or being intimate with someone in a publication who will run your stories.

Knowing the lines of what can or can't work together will help eliminate any ethical dilemmas. According to ThoughtCo. there are numerous ways in which a journalist can steer clear of causing a conflict of interest.

One way is to not accept gifts from any sources. This will make it seem like a journalist can be swayed with bribery. Another is to not get caught up in political work because it shows that objectivity is not as important but making a stand is.

Watching relationships that one makes with sources or clients because once you have a close friendship with someone than not intentionally that person will become favored. There is a line between having a work relationship and a close one.

If one feels something in their gut to be wrong or have the desire to hide it from other people than that is a conflict of interest. Chances are if a person does not want their employers to know what they are doing on the side than it is an issue of ethics.

Keep the best intent in mind of the clients, sources, employers and coworkers because they can also become hurt with a conflict of interest. Lesile Roberts should have chosen between either being a newscaster or creative director to avoid losing his jobs and putting those business in jeopardy.

All in all, there are ways to avoid being caught up in a conflict of interest. If someone feels shameful for being caught up in getting benefits or being bribed than that is an ethical issue. Learning to identify what is an conflict of interest is the first step to avoid one.

Journalists have to be aware of the type of relationships they are building with others because it could cross the line and cost a job.