What do you tell a journalist friend who uncovered corruption in local business but cannot run article because of advertising?

PROMPT: “Good Night
and Good Luck” addresses the moral courage of iconic journalist Edward R.
Murrow
in countering corporate resistance to his exposure of the malevolence of Senator Joe
McCarthy. Indeed,Murrow’s moral courage in the face of powerful opposition is the hallmark of
what this entire course has been about. We have seen this issue throughout the films we have seen
and
discussed: Judge
Ernst Janning, who made the wrong moral choice; Sophie and Hans Scholl, who made the right moral choice;
Mose Wright, who made the right moral choice;
Mr.. Wright (in
“Rosewood”), who made the right moral choice;
etc.

This prompt gives you the opportunity to weigh in on a real life journalistic dilemma loosely related
to
the Murrow story. It was briefly
discussed in class. A former student about 20 years or so ago
was working as a TV investigative reporter in a small market city. Through diligent work, he
discovered substantial corruption among some local influential business leaders. He brought his
findings to his managing editor at the TV station and asked to report it on television. His
investigation was entirely accurate and flawless.

His editor congratulated him on a job well done. Then he told him that some of these business
leaders were major
advertisers to the station and would likely be very upset at this report.
He also
said that if the withdrew their advertising, the revenue loss could result in layoffs, implying that even
this young reporter could be in jeopardy. The managing editor then
said that the reporter could run
the story if he really wanted to, but that he strongly advised against it.

You (once again!) are a close friend. He turns to you for advice. He tells you that he went into
journalism because Edward R. Murrow inspired him. But he feels severely conflicted, because this
is a really good job. He asks you to write a 7+ page letter to him suggesting what he should do, with
all supporting reasons, using the class films (and anything else you would like) as support.”

7+ pages, use the ideas from the film Good Night and Good Luck (2007) and be sure to reference it throughout the essay. Also include or reference moral conflicts in films such as: Judgement at Nuremberg, Rosewood, Thelma and Louise, or Sankofa. Message me any questions