Introduction
The world of journalism is a very questionable, and yet rewarding one. Those who are willing to take the risk to become journalistic greats will conversely be compensated with the respect, and admiration of their peers. However, the question often comes up about journalism, and that is, is journalism worth ruining someone else’s life for or is it worth keeping quiet about something you’ve always known about someone or someone’s establishment just to spare them, and their place of business? Journalism is one of those fields of work where some people throw their moral compass out the window because the truth is worth more than a person’s dignity, respect or feelings.
Question 1
Is it ever permissible to lie in order to obtain the truth, why? The answer, no it is not. Journalism is all about truth, but if a journalist is lying about the very truth that they’ve swore to morally obtain then all they are doing is just distorting the truth. No journalist should ever distort the truth because there are grave consequences for doing so. There are lawsuit penalties for lying about valuable information that will presented to everyone in the world, and sometimes the lawsuit penalty is so severe to which there is no way to recover.
Question 2
Now, there are some sources of journalism that actually reveal more than just truth and can bring about real change in a community or a pivotal establishment in the community. The question was Nelly Bly morally correct in her journalism efforts; the answer is yes she was. Everyone will agree that that it was a little off-putting about how she pretended to be insane in order to go undercover, and get dirt on Blackwell’s Island. However, her discoveries made her a legend because she reported the exact truth of what was going on which people needed to know about; someone they know could go or be in there, and end up facing the same harsh conditions that the present inmates including herself has undergone. Bly’s actions by today’s society would be heralded as both pointless, and lack of potential public interest. Mostly, media today is not about reporting necessary truth to benefit the public. Instead, it is mostly smeared and ugly because reporting the truth is not important in the media today.
Final Section
If I was to assume the role of Nellie Bly, the repercussions that I would be worried about is my family being targeted for murder because I revealed something that more or less was supposed to be revealed, and people close to me could be targeted for subjects of investigation. The victim’s family could be just as easily hurt, or dealt destructive media damage by this scenario. Simply because of their loved one being the target for unsavory acts or conditions of the facility, and the role that they played in turning their back to what was going on inside of the facility. On the topic of professional career, as a journalist, this was a huge case and one that could elevate a journalist’s career fast, quick and in a hurry; they could have rosed about the ranks almost instantly. Although, conversely, while your career goes up because of your outstanding discovery of this report; another person’s career goes down. The owner of the facility could be ritually fired for his allowance of his facility to become a death trap, and allowing the place to become so unlivable; to the point of inmates fearing for their lives every single minute of the day. Places of rehabilitation are supposed to be peaceful, safe havens for people to get the help they need. This clearly was not that. Long term effects, Blackwell changes for the better and it is under the watchful eye of administrative officials who care about what happens within the place. The risk would be worth the reward; sure you would be compensated immensely for your exposé on Blackwell’s Island mistreatment of its inmates, but the bigger reward is that you would be helping the community at large by opening their eyes to the truth about Blackwell’s Island debauchery. This information could help someone out if they had reservations about someone they love going into the facility; they would know ahead of time to stay clear of the place until it was completed changed in its ways.
