Ethics

Ethics 4
Several reliable tipsters tell you that city building inspectors, police officers and other public employees are demanding thousands of dollars in bribes from restaurants and bars, and threatening to shut them down if they don't pay. A fellow editor says your publication should test these accusations by opening a phony bar staffed by journalists. Reporters, posing as bar employees, can prove or disprove the allegations by seeing if inspectors, police and others seek bribes.

Finances aside, would you agree to conduct this sting?

1. Define the dilemma. What is the concern?

Concerns could be the paper could be sued for entrapment, or lying on official records if they make a "fake" restaurant. Others restaurants could also be affected if city officials got angry and punished real restaurants. Also the tip could be false and the paper could lose credibility if people found out they created a fake restaurant.
2. Examine the alternatives. Are there other options to convey the message?
Don't create the restaurant, base the stroy off of interviews only,
3. Justify your decision. Explain why you decided what you decided.
I would do the sting. The public good would far overshadow the harm if the stroy was true, and the corrupted people were taken out of power. It has high news value, not sensationalism, because the activity is highly illegal.