Unethical Reporting Justified

A Dutchman also a journalist was on holiday in Bali when he was pulled over by a police officer for riding a motorbike without a helmet. The officer than preceded to fine the man but in-turn offered a bribe, in turning allowing the journalist not to receive a fine and no court summons.

The jouranlist submitted a story and helped to expose the corruption with the Balinese police force. 

Is this practice in journalism justified? The man didn't identify himself as being a jouranlist at the time and submitted a story afterwards? Is it justified by the public interest. 

The incident has shone a light on the ugly side of corruption among public officials in Indonesia. A great many tourists and Westerners in Bali can tell you how they paid a bribe to a traffic cop to get out of trouble. It's generally about $20 but it adds up when you consider how many people they stop and "fine" in a shift.

Read more here: News.com.au.

Defamation requires ~ Publication, Defamatory imputation and Identification - First, the grounding of the action on the imputation or imputations pleaded and alleged to flow from the publication of the defamatory matter. Secondly, the question whether or not the falsity of the imputation ought to be an essential ingredient of the plaintiff’s cause of action. Thirdly the plaintiff needs to be identifiable either directly or indirectly.

What about this story, is this unethical? Today Tonight: refugees from journalistic decency.

Journalists who face ethical dilemmas are reminded to ask themselves … 

What should we do in cases like this?Who will be hurt and who will be helped?Is there a better alternative?Can I justify this to other people or to the public?What principles or values can I apply?