Ethical question

[joe king]

At a paper I used to work at owned by a prominent chain, they had corporate lawyers come through every year or so for what they called ``libel seminars,'' and the first thing they told us every year was to get rid of old notes. Once the story is done, throw them away. That way, you can play the don't remember card if you're ever subpoenaed.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

Most newspapers I've worked for had either a lawyer on retainer or even in-house. This is what we pay them for.

 

[area313code]

Hold up....

You take notes?

 

[PEteacher]

Should be a third option: Destroy the notes, and then cooperate and act sympathetic to police.

 

[Ace]

In some of the coverage of the JonBenet case, this line struck me and I was wondering what other people thought.
"Was the principle of finding a killer more important than the privacy of a journalist's notes and communications?"

By the way, the writer didn't say what he would do.

So let's say you are put in a similar situation. In the process of an interview, the subject admits guilt to a murder.
Would you tell the cops or not tell the cops?
If it went to court, would you give up your notes or not give up your notes?
If faced with the contempt of court charges, would you go to jail to protect someone who admitted to a murder?

jay - are you the bengals' beat writer?

I don't think so. He'd have this down by now.