Quote:
Originally posted by ndetroit
Something about journalistic objectivism, right. .... ?
the journalist had no choice but to get his camera... a bucket of water would have surely put him in a very non-ethical position.
What about journalistic objectivity?
|
Interestingly, a man attempted the same thing in front of the French embassy in Ottawa, Canada and the CBC reporter covering the event was the one that pulled the lighter out of his hand while police and other protestors tackled the guy to prevent him from starting the fire (he was already covered in gasoline).
I'm not sure that it's interfering with journalistic objectivity to prevent someone from harming themselves, as the statement being made can still be made ("a man was admitted to hospital after attempting to set himself on fire to protest .....").
If the reporter gave the man the lighter, then that would be questionable objectivity. It's very subtle, but i think that in real-life practice, there can be a distinction made.
CBC = Canadian Broadcast Corp - the state-run media corp.
-r.