They felt they were being asked to compromise their ethics as journalists and as a result were fired. The journalist s job is to fight for what is right. SPJ s job is to help. Hamilton was Director of KBC s training center. After the firings, five other employees quit KNBA in protest of management s interference in news content.
Journalists have a duty to avoid conflicts of interest whether real or perceived.
Often, a journalist has to make a tough choice. These two personally sacrificed for what they believed in. The Legal Defense Fund, made up of contributions from journalists nationwide, is the only fund of its kind. Any journalist in legal trouble can apply for these grants from the Society. Recent cases the Society has contributed to include the defense of a CBS producer cited for contempt of court in a controversial Texas murder case and a freelance author who was subpoenaed in the civil review of convicted murder Dr. Sam Sheppard.