Always an ethical dilemma, yes. But let me posit this thought: While journalists are human and feel just as much (sometimes even more) strongly than the audience about the stories we cover, we dont often have enough in the way of material resources on hand to share in order to quench the immediate and overwhelming need of the people we cover--especially in situations of calamity and widespread social degradation. Sometimes the help we would give--a bit of food, perhaps some cash--may even put the people we seek to help in this way at risk of violence from others. It really depends on how stable or fluid the situation is. In some instances, we do intervene, but such actions are always a judgment call that may do good or worsen a situation. That call, in my opinion, is the journalists alone, for it is with the conscience that the journalist will eventually struggle after the coverage.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 15:45:32 +0000
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