The Many Lines of Conflicts of Interest

Cara Renfro

cr322818@ohio.edu 

 

Journalists act as a source of information for the public. For this reason, it is imperative for journalists and media organizations to not only remain unbiased, but also to avoid being perceived as biased. These biases are, in other words, conflicts of interest. 

Conflicts of interest can appear in many forms and can sometimes be difficult to navigate. This is problematic for those who pursue a career that is in relation to the media, such as those in the journalism field, who are especially likely to encounter issues of conflict of interest. 

Conflicts of interest can arise from familial ties and proximity to a story. Ultimately, emotions are a main foundation of causes of conflict of interest. 

What's the Problem, Anyway? 

Familial ties can be a major issue to journalists, especially when it comes to politics. Paul Farhi dives into the topic in his article, "Media, Administration Deal With Conflict"(2013). Farhi explains different journalists' relations to the Obama administration. He states, "Conservatives have suggested that these relationships may play a role in how the media cover Obama..." With politics being as important as it is, it is evident that these relationships may cause problems. Emotional ties, however, extend beyond family. 

Photo source: The Washington Post

Howard Rosenberg also expressed the issue of emotional proximity in his article, "A Journalist Breaks the Golden Rule"(2002). He explained that a reporter of a story involving the kidnapping of two children, who turned to murder victims, became a speaker at the eulogy. 

Rosenberg unfolded the ethical issue of the situation. He explained the issue as: "...violating a basic tenet of journalism by participating in a story she was supposed to be observing as a reporter, as an outsider".

It is the responsibility of a reporter to tell the facts of a story, without opinion or commentary. Becoming emotionally too close to a story can cause an appearance of unprofessional reporting and call into question the validity of the reporter, organization, and the truth. 

Blurred Solutions 

Conflicts of interest are unethical in journalism and are complicated in avoidance. Navigating conflicts of interest can be a grey area. For example, although it is unethical for a journalist to report in association to familial ties, does that make it right for the journalist to have to uproot his or her career stability in order to avoid a perception of bias? Does avoidance of conflict of interest have more weight than basic human emotion? 

The solution to conflicts of interest are not always clear cut decisions. As conflicts of interest are situational, the solutions are also situational.