Solving the Ethics Problem With Election News Coverage

Solving the Ethics Problem With Election News CoverageWith the Supreme Court hearing arguments in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, the job of an online news writer can be to cover the court's issues in terms of election campaigns and governmental relations. Or, the reporter can delve deeper into the ethical questions raised by the case.It can be difficult to write about the Supreme Court while it is hearing oral arguments and no paper topics are available. This leaves a reporter to make a decision as to how to best handle the issue. There are a number of ways that one can go about writing about the court's decisions in cases before it.For example, an online news reporter can choose to use their background and knowledge to research on election campaign issues or to examine public policy in regard to the case. In these areas, the reporter will have a better understanding of the actual court's decision than he or she would in a search for paper topics. But, the ability t o use past court decisions as a basis for future stories is also valuable. The reporter should still consider using the newspaper as a source of information, but may find that a background in the law can be helpful in making decisions.As for how to use a newspaper as a resource for stories, it is helpful to pay attention to the manner in which a story is presented. If the paper used is well-established and is well-known, the paper will have clearly set out its style and format. It is important to follow that format so as not to be at odds with what is traditionally published by the publication.In addition, if the paper is a relatively new publication, it will be important to follow the legal path set by courts in the past in cases similar to a specific election. These precedents are set out in the Federalist Papers. These precedents should be followed carefully so as not to contradict the court's decision in the case before the court.Further, an online news reporter can draw on his or her own experience covering election issues. The reader can be made aware of the factors that were not considered in a particular election. Similarly, a general sense of public opinion in a community can be given due consideration as the reader gets a sense of the political climate in this particular area. And, a reporter can give an account of the issues that emerged from the case that may be relevant to the issue before the court.Finally, the article can provide an update on the court's decision and make sure that the reader has an accurate report of the actual case before the court. If the court's decision is unfavorable to the party, a news outlet should provide a clear statement that the party did not act improperly. As for the newspaper's own editorial stance on the case, an online news reporter should make sure that the newspaper's reporting does not contradict the actual court's decision.An obvious place to put points of view in this kind of reporting is on the website. T he reporter may want to include information on the opinions of current and former judges, the points that have been made by the opposing party or the general public opinion in regard to the case. Making such statements on the website allows the reporter to 'sell' the idea to readers.