From the Tehalka tapes to the latest N D Tiwary's scandal, these thing come in news because of the sting operations. At a higher level, the fake undercover operation focuses attention on the length to which the highly competitive news channels will go to catch the eyeballs. Sting operations of dubious merit, in which reporters go out of the way to persuade individuals into behaving inappropriately before capturing them on a hidden camera, have become staple with some news channels.
I think Journalism that relies on deception must satisfy at least the 3 conditions or professional norms before carrying out a sting operation:
The information that would be be revealed out of the sting operation must relate to a larger social and public purpose, the value of such information to the society must outweigh the injury caused by deception and the undercover methods should be used only as a last resort when information cannot be revealed by straightforward means.
The use of unethical industry techniques of news gathering can only strengthen the governments misguided attempt to regulate the broadcasting industry. A code of conduct governing the sting operations - that would allow only purposeful and socially relevant undercover journalism on rare occasions under supervision at the highest level - could be the first step towards drawing up a blueprint for the self regulation of the broadcasting industry.
B N T - p30021
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