Since I don't think I can control what reporters do after hours the only alternative is a kind of detente. I asked the reporters to tell me, as a professional courtesy and for their own good, whenever they planned to attend something of a political nature. I respect a reporter's right to privacy, but I hoped they'd respect my need to protect the paper. Well, the reporter who wanted to attend the rally decided not to go. Other reporters liked having a chance to open up about ethics issues and said nothing like that had been done at The Bulletin before.
Reporters come up with their own topics, compare their judgment calls with the rest of the staff.
Granted, my job would be a lot easier if we had guidelines on outside activities. No, I would still rather count on a reporter to make the right decision than to infringe on his or her private life away from work. The Newsletter On Journalism Ethics, vol. Reprinted with the permission of Billy Goat Strut Publishing. This case may be reproduced for classroom and research purposes.