To cite or not to cite: that is the ethical question

Jamie Miller

jm834949@ohio.edu

Image by UNCW Randall Library

"We need to hold accountability to our sources," Ohio University Professor Aimee Edmondson stated in a Communication Law class in Fall 2021. "It is unfair any other way." Edmondson stuck to her extensive experience writing as a journalist when lecturing on this complicated issue. In her eyes, a source must be willing to deal with the consequences of possibly false information when reporting to a credible news source.

But does this statement hold up in every scenario? In other words, is it always ethical?

NPR's article NPR Standards Need More Clarity Around When To Name A Mass Shooter begs to differ. The news station currently minimizes the name of mass shooters in its stories instead of focusing on the victims affected. This policy is made to minimize any cause that the shooter intended to publicize. For example, if a shooter wished to increase publicity towards a white supremacist group, it would be counterproductive to name the shooter and credit the terrorist organization. It may glamorize the shooter's actions or encourage a copycat shooter. Additionally, giving the name to the terrorist organization provides an aspect of legitimacy that may accredit others to join such an organization.

Noting the names and organizations affiliated with such murderers may also retraumatize the victims and their families. To grieve the loss of a loved one is difficult. But coping with loss while combating media attention feels immoral to inflict. 

On the other hand, including information on the shooter's background may help prevent further shootings. For example, if a shooter suffered from severe mental health issues as an underage person, perhaps we should apply more restrictions to potential gun owners and any who may get access to their gun. Additionally, publishing a shooter's name could raise awareness of the importance of gun safety and mental health in their community. 

When contemplating the extent to which sources should be named, it is impossible to overlook instances of rape allegations. Initially, one may feel a sense of vigilante justice to name the accused rapist and protect the victim's identity. According to The Cut's article, Almost No One Is Falsely Accused of Rape, an estimated 95 percent of college students do not report assaults to police. The publicity of such a trial may prove overwhelming, to put it mildly. As a result, an estimated 0.5 percent of the assault accusations from college students are found to be false. But anonymous sources may lack credibility; a newspaper may foster apprehension when citing such an individual. 

Therefore, the question remains: to cite or not to cite? That is the ethical question.