Law and Ethics Test 5

8b) Police are searching for a rapist after a 13-year-old girl was attacked in Greater Manchester. The man, who is described as Asian and in his early 20s, followed her and pushed her down Half Acre Lane where he raped her. She then ran away. The rapist is described as having a shaven head and a beard, and was wearing a dark hooded top and tracksuit bottoms at the time of the attack”.

I think the report has similar problem with the first one – details.

The aim of the report is to find out the rapist, not to report a rape crime. So we don’t need to mention his criminal behaviour. This kind of unrelated detail is not needed.

To find out the rapist, more details about the man himself are necessary, such as his approximately height, he is thin or fat, and so on.

9. A spokesman for the far-right British National party makes a highly racist speech. Do you report what he said? Would you invite him to be interviewed live on radio or television?

I will not report what he said. Because what he said is offensive language.

According to BBC Editorial Guidelines Harm & Offence section, “Different words cause different degrees of offence in different parts of the world. So a person's age, sex, education, employment, belief, nationality, and where they live, all impact on whether or not they might be offended.”

This speech, which was presented by a British National party’s speaker who is of high position and whose speech may represent a nation’s like or dislike, would cause big problem between British and minority nationalities.

However, I will not interview him on live radio or TV. Because no one could guarantee he doesn’t speak harm words on live programmes, which would be out of control.