Bought Words
A newsroom's off-the-books fund for paying eyewitnesses unravels from within.
Research Pillar 04
Media Research, Journalism Ethics and Public Communication
Source integrity, verification and public trust in the age of cheque-book journalism.
This research and educational stream examines journalism ethics, source payments, verification, media accountability, sensationalism and public trust. The fictional case studies below are designed for teaching and policy discussion; separate empirical articles and book projects will address media governance, research communication and responsible public-interest reporting.
Media Ethics Case Studies
Ten teaching narratives on source integrity
Fictional · Educational
All ten narratives are original fictional case studies created for illustrative and educational purposes. They do not depict real individuals, organisations or events, and are intended for use in media-ethics teaching, public discussion and journalism-standards advocacy.
Pay to Say
A paid courtroom exclusive collapses the very case it covered.
Cash for Quotes
A cash-for-tips scheme produces a fabricated community scandal.
Silence for Sale, Truth for Rent
Selective editing turns a whistleblower's story into someone else's narrative.
The Witness Who Was Paid to Talk
A paid account grows more dramatic with every retelling.
Ink Stained with Money
Undisclosed payments quietly shape a freelancer's 'independent' coverage.
Headlines for Hire
A paid gossip segment blurs entertainment and journalism.
The Going Rate for the Truth
A paid, unverified leak turns out to be doctored.
Sold Stories
A paid family retelling blurs compassion, commerce and accuracy.
Fabricated for a Fee
A paid, fabricated exclusive collapses a newsroom's credibility.
Our Republic and its press will rise or fall together.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
— Helen Keller
Meaningful collaboration begins with a shared problem, a clear contribution from each partner and an honest method for measuring results.