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In the Tehelka Expose a whole govt. is tottering
because of corruption charges in a fake arms deal. A journalist
masterminds the fake deal and uses it as a decoy to corner
a few politicians. Is it okay for a journalist to dangle a
carrot to a govt. representative and if he takes it, shoot
it stealthily and expose the representative?
On the face of it this might seem right that
a corrupt person is exposed through cheating. But put yourself
in the place of the politicians and be frank to yourself,
how many of you would have resisted two or 3 lakh rupees coming
your way without doing anything.
I am not trying to say that all these exposed
politicians were clean and good people and its just that the
journalists forced bribes on them. I am trying to raise a
different question - what are the limits that a journalist
should set for himself while covering any story.
While covering an investigative story - it helps
to shoot stealthily as otherwise you may not be able to construct
your story. But there is a thin line between cheating your
subject and shooting with hidden camera for a just reason.
You wish to show that a cop takes bribe. This
is something many policemen in India are accused of doing.
You catch him doing that using a hidden camera. I wouldn't
think there is anything wrong with this. On the other hand
a politician you are interviewing makes a remark against his
own leader believing that your camera is switched off.
But actually this got recorded because you were
shooting cut-aways of the person and he did not know about
it. This makes a great news for you, but would you show it.
After all you never took him into confidence
while shooting the cut-aways. I would think the second case
is unethical as you are showing something which was told to
you, off the camera, with a confidence that you won't reveal
it. You breach his trust!
Issues like this are very important and organisations
like the BBC have special set of guidelines to deal with such
situation.
I will be raising some of these issues in this
column and based on my experience and knowledge would try
to give my opinion on them.
However, you should follow the guidelines set
by your organisation - yet being aware of what is right.
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