You are a reporter in Portland, Oregon, working on a story about a manufacturing company’s pollution of the Columbia River. A friend of yours works in the Human

Question

You must decide whether to take the job or try to get the evidence by other means. If you take the job, it will be undercover. The company would not hire you if it knew that you were a reporter trying to gain information about their business practices. If you don’t take the job, you may not be able to finish the story, because you have followed every lead, but have not been able to get definitive proof that the company is polluting the river.

In two-to-three, well-developed paragraphs, choose how you would handle this situation. Then, justify your decision by explaining how you used the knowledge of philosophy, ethics, and morality that you gained in this class to decide. Be certain to include in your answer a discussion of the relevant rights and obligations.

Answer 1

Think of it this way:  If you were the company, how would you feel about the reporter getting the job and then reporting bad things about the company?  What will the reporter have to do to get the job?

 

The reporter will probably have to lie.  It is unlikely the company would hire the reporter if they knew what the reporter were really up to.  Even if the company had nothing to hide, that would probably make the company uncomfortable.

 

If you are the reporter, how would you feel about taking the company's money under false pretenses?  Would it make a difference if you resolved to return any pay you received after you write the story?

 

If there is a real concern about polluting the river, does the greater good justify your actions?  or are you just trying to look good to your real employer, the newspaper?

 

Since you are supposed to use what you learned in the class to support whatever position you decide to take, you should review your notes and readings first.

 

Good luck!