IS MONEY MORE IMPORTANT THAN CHILDREN AND ETHICS? – 5 QUESTIONS The recent debate regarding Channel 9 and 60 Minutes in Lebanon has raised again the issue of cheque book journalism. It is an important debate. More important however is one about the ethical responsibilities of businesses in general in their pursuit of the mighty […]

IS MONEY MORE IMPORTANT THAN CHILDREN AND ETHICS? – 5 QUESTIONS The recent debate regarding Channel 9 and 60 Minutes in Lebanon has raised again the issue of cheque book journalism. It is an important debate. More important however is one about the ethical responsibilities of businesses in general in their pursuit of the mighty dollar. I have no doubt that 60 Minutes pursued the story in Lebanon not because it would help any of the parties involved, but because the story would attract viewers and therefore ratings – which in the longer term would be converted into profits. The same can be said when a ‘journalist’ stands on the doorstep of a family recently bereaved to that they can stick a microphone in a mothers face and ask her how she feels. They then justify this, like they do so many things by saying that it is in the…