Gender Pay Equity
Background: You are a journalist working for a reputable natio
Gender Pay Equity
Background: You are a journalist working for a reputable national news outlet, and you’ve been assigned to investigate and report on the persistent gender pay gap in the United States. Your investigation focuses on a large, well-known tech company that has faced allegations of paying female employees significantly less than their male counterparts for similar work.
During your investigation, you uncover compelling evidence that clearly supports the existence of a gender pay gap within the tech company. You have access to internal documents and testimonies from current and former employees that confirm these disparities. However, you also learn that the tech company is one of your news outlet’s major advertisers, and your editor is concerned about potential financial repercussions if the story is published.
Questions:
1. How do you approach reporting on the gender pay gap within the tech company while considering the financial interests of your news outlet?
2. Should you disclose to your editor the evidence you’ve uncovered and the potential financial consequences of publishing the story? Why or why not?
3. Consider the potential consequences of reporting on the gender pay gap, both short-term and long-term, for the tech company, its employees, and your news outlet. How do you balance these consequences with your duty to report the truth?
4. How can you ensure that your reporting on remains fair and balanced, avoiding any appearance of bias or sensationalism?
Reporting on a Controversial Cultural Practice
Background: You are a journalist working for a national news outlet, assigned to cover a story about a controversial cultural practice within a marginalized community. The practice in question, called “Tradition X,” has deep historical and cultural roots within this community but has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and some members of the broader society for its potential harm to individuals, particularly women.
While conducting interviews and research for your story, you learn the following. Some community members view Tradition X as an integral part of their cultural identity and express concerns about outsiders sensationalizing or misrepresenting it. They request that the practice be portrayed in a nuanced and respectful manner. You discover that Tradition X appears to discriminate against women, limiting their opportunities and rights. Women who speak out against it face social stigma and even ostracism from their community.
Questions:
1. How would you approach reporting on Tradition X while respecting the cultural sensitivity expressed by community members?
2. How can you ensure that your reporting addresses the gender equality concerns related to Tradition X without sensationalizing or stigmatizing the community?
3. What steps can you take to maintain objectivity in your reporting while also acknowledging the potential harm associated with Tradition X?
4. Are there ethical guidelines or principles specific to cultural reporting that you should consider when covering this story?
Native Advertising
Background: You are a journalist working for a reputable online news publication that relies on advertising revenue to support its operations. The editorial team has been tasked with creating a sponsored content piece, often referred to as “native advertising,” for a major tech company. The tech company specializes in developing surveillance technology for government and corporate use.
As you work on the native advertising piece, you discover that the tech company’s surveillance technology has been controversially used in multiple instances to infringe on individual privacy and civil liberties. There are reports of this technology being deployed without proper oversight and potentially violating human rights.
Questions:
1. How would you approach the creation of the native advertising content given the ethical concerns related to the tech company’s surveillance technology?
2. Should you disclose the potential ethical concerns related to the tech company’s product within the sponsored content, and if so, how can this be done effectively?
3. Are there alternative approaches to advertising that can balance the need for revenue with ethical considerations, such as content guidelines or policies regarding advertisers?
