Are Hidden Cameras Ethical or Not?

In order to make an ethical decision on the case studies in Ch. 4, I relied on the standards of journalism truth which are: accuracy, promoting understanding, and being fair and balanced. In most of the case studies, reporters wanted to be completely accurate but they sometimes had to use deception in order to get the truth. Journalists should always be fair to the public and get the truth, but what if deception is the only way. Should journalists act on whatever means necessary to get the truth, even if it can hurt people? I debated this problem many times in trying to make sense of the case studies and figure out an ethical response to them.

One major form of deception is the use of hidden cameras. When looking at case 4-3, reporter Manny Fernandez is faced with a problem dealing with the employment of illegal immigrants. Sources have told Fernandez that illegal immigrants have been working for Alton Enterprises and have been treated with horrible working conditions. In order to be sure that this was really going on, the only way to get the truth would involve deception.
A photographer from their station would go to work there and secretly use concealed cameras and microphones to capture the harsh working conditions of the immigrants. When dealing with ethical issues, Fernandez was concerned that if the station used deception, then they would lose their credibility. He also didn’t know if the truth would actually help the immigrants or only hurt them worse. Even if they are working under harsh conditions, it still might be better than dealing with the poverty they experienced in their homeland. The two issues that faced Fernandez were “the public’s need to know and the minimization of harm (p.114).” The public has a right to know about the exploitation of immigrant workers, but will this story help the immigrants or only make it worse?

I relied on the standards of journalist truth and I believe that the use of hidden cameras is completely unethical. If Fernandez really wanted to get the truth, he would have to do it by some other means. Using hidden cameras may be accurate, but it does not promote understanding, nor is it fair and balanced.