If the Watchdog Bites, Is It Put Down? A Response to Neil Levy on Journalism Ethics and Entrapment

Harrison, John and Breit, Rhonda (2004) If the Watchdog Bites, Is It Put Down? A Response to Neil Levy on Journalism Ethics and Entrapment.

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Title If the Watchdog Bites, Is It Put Down? A Response to Neil Levy on Journalism Ethics and Entrapment
Abstract/Summary In 2002 Neil Levy published an article in the Journal of Applied Philosophy (19, 2, pp. 121-130), "In Defence of Entrapment in Journalism (and Beyond)". This response to Neil Levy's recent assertion of a "right" of entrapment by journalists suggests that Levy's argument is based on an inadequate conceptualization of both the function of journalism and nature of journalistic practice, and fails to take into account how the law currently impinges on journalistic practice. We put the proposition that legitimating journalistic use of entrapment by paralleling it with "proactive policing" is not established as an ethically - or legally - acceptable practice, and indeed in terms of the re-emerging neo-Aristotelian ethic of virtue, is more likely to corrupt the journalistic practitioner than result in revelations of malfeasance in the public interest.
Keyword Ethics
journalism ethics
entrapment
deception
Date 2004-01-01
Subjects 390204 Professional Ethics
400101 Journalism
Author Harrison, John
Breit, Rhonda

Document type: Preprint
Collection: School of Journalism and Communication Publications
 
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Created: Wed, 28 Apr 2004, 10:00:00 EST by Belinda Weaver (EA)