“Can We Tape?” For every interview, journalists need to ask this question.
Of course we can interview and tape individuals – it’s part of our job. But the real questions are how we obtain this information, if we get consent or not, and what we do with the information once we obtain it.
There are laws regarding this issue in every state. As a journalist it is important to know these laws both at the federal and state level. We are responsible for the material we produce.
According to The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP.org):
Generally, you may record, film, broadcast or amplify any conversation where all the parties to it consent. It is always legal to tape or film a face-to-face interview when your recorder or camera is in plain view. The consent of all parties is presumed in these instances.1
A question to consider is it ethical to record a conversation and then get consent or get consent and then record the conversation? Sometimes the story may come out better if we get the consent after we do the interview or get the story. Many people become camera shy or shy in general if they know they are being questioned for the news. This may alter change the quality of the interview. You may get a better story if you get consent after doing the “undercover” reporting. However, this raises a lot of ethical questions. What do you think? As journalists should we do this?
- http://www.rcfp.org/taping/consent.html [↩]
