The Canadian Association of Journalists has released a new report on the problematic nature of paying outside sources for information, a practice commonly known as chequebook journalism. Authored by Patrick Brethour and Ivor Shapiro of the CAJ Ethics Advisory Committee, the report outlines a five-point framework journalists can consult on a case-by-case basis to evaluate the morality of paying for information.
“The ethics committee affirms its recommendation in the CAJ guidelines that journalists generally should not pay for information, but rare exceptions may be warranted when the social/public interest is particularly high.”
