The current hullabaloo over Ian's Murphy's prank call to Wis. Gov. Scott Walker brings up issues other than those relating to the current state of crisis in Madison. Calling up a source and hiding your true identity is unethical. As we are all well aware the media landscape is changing. Gone are the days of a reporter with a trench coat and a note pad rushing around the city to get the latest scoop. The masses no longer rely solely on mainstream media outlets - newspapers and broadcast news - to get their information. However, just because the way the public gets their news has changed does not mean that responsible journalism should be thrown out the window. Calling up sources and saying you are a well-known acquaintance of theirs does not fall under the realm of responsible journalism. Not only did he lie about who he was, he recorded the conversation unbeknownst to the source. That's a big no-no.
Whether you agree or disagree with Walker's budget bill, what Mr. Murphy did was wrong. While his intentions may have been noble, his execution was unethical.
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