Deck 15: More Topics in the Ethical Debate

Question 1

Which one of these most closely matches David Gordon's definition of a confidential source?

A) Someone who gives a journalist information off-the-record in exchange for a promise the journalist will safeguard his or her identity.
B) Someone who gives a journalist information off-the-record but gets no guarantee that the journalist will safeguard his or her identity
C) Someone who gives a journalist information for background use only
D) Someone who gives a journalist an anonymous tip

Answer 1

A

Question 2

All of these were in the three-part balancing test for confidential sources established in the Branzburg v. Hayes 1972 Supreme Court case, except ...

A) Identifying the source had to be critical and necessary to the resolution of a significant legal issue
B) There was no other way to obtain the critical and necessary information
C) There had to be an overriding public interest in disclosure of the source
D) There would be no other way for the prosecutor, complainant or special investigator to successfully conclude the case without disclosure of the source

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of these is closest to what David Gordon means when he says journalists need more transparency in their use of confidential sources?

A) Journalists should be more transparent by naming their confidential sources when need be
B) Journalists should be more transparent by telling their audiences why they needed to use a confidential source for a story
C) Journalists should be more transparent by telling sources they might not be able to safeguard their identity in court
D) Reporters should be more transparent by consulting with their editors before granting confidentiality to sources

Answer 3

B

Question 4

When a journalist breaks his or her promise and identifies a confidential source, it has a chilling effect on all of these, except ...

A) All potential confidential sources and their information
B) The journalist involved and all other journalists who might need information from a confidential source
C) The ability of prosecutors and special investigators to win cases involving journalists' confidential sources
D) The Kantian pursuits of The Truth and dignity

Question 5

When should an ethical journalist reveal the identity of her or his confidential source, according to Michael Dorsher's argument?

A) When a judge holds him or her in contempt of court
B) When he or she has served at least 85 days in jail, as did Judith Miller of The New York Times
C) Never (unless it could perhaps save someone's life)
D) When it's the only way for a grand jury to complete its work

Question 6

Based on your reading of Gordon's and Dorsher's stances on a federal shield law, which of these statements would be true?

A) Gordon would support a federal shield law because it would always protect journalists from being prosecuted for not revealing their sources.
B) Gordon would not expect a federal shield law to shield journalists or confidential sources in many cases, for many reasons.
C) Dorsher would support a federal shield law because it would always protect journalists from being prosecuted for not revealing their sources.
D) Dorsher would oppose a federal shield law because there's no way to devise one that effectively shields journalists most of the time.