Wireless tools now used by almost 70 million Americans have made it easier to call in a story, or to reach people where news is happening. Smaller cameras have made it almost impossible for major stories to be without videos. But those tools, and our other technologies, must be used with care and good judgment. Newsrooms, both broadcast and increasingly print, must exercise considerable caution during live coverage, or Internet coverage, of fast-moving events, such as hostage situations. Rushing to broadcast a breathless eyewitness onto the air during the event might put others lives in jeopardy, either the hostages or the authorities trying to defuse the difficult situation.
Live interviews can encourage pranksters to influence coverage.
Even the prolonged live coverage of some events may be less valuable than providing frequent and informative updates as new developments occur. If we provide continuous coverage just because we can, we risk turning that coverage from being informative to being a simple substitute for regularly scheduled TV programs. The SPJ Code of Ethics encourages journalists to minimize harm by recognizing that our coverage can hurt, cause discomfort or be insensitive. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. Professional journalists try to balance the demands for information and news against the effect on those we cover.