Conclusion of research paper

My paper is still quite unfinished but this conclusion section was helpful in trying to tie my thoughts together and perhaps inspire coherence as I go back through my topic.

This research indicates that deception is a practice readily used in the field of journalism today. This use is widespread across many of the different forms of media and generally accepted by members of the field. There are varying levels of both the use of deception and the recognition of use by practicing journalists. In many cases though, deception is used on a microscopic scale to expose truth on a macroscopic scale. Reporters may disguise themselves or their motives in order to obtain access that allows them to expose bigger threats to readers.

Joe McGinnis used deception to obtain better access to his subject, convicted murderer Jeffery MacDonald. McGinnis convinced MacDonald to continue their exchange of information because McGinnis convinced MacDonald that McGinnis believed MacDonald was innocent, when McGinnis actually felt the opposite. McGinnis believed he was doing his readers a service by trying to expose the brutal details of the story, as the further he investigated MacDonald, the more he became convinced of MacDonald’s guilt.

Earlier than McGinnis’ work, Upton Sinclair led a movement to clean the American meat packing industry in the early 1900s. In The Jungle, Sinclair used deception to infiltrate the meat industry and expose its rancid working conditions and practices. Shortly after the release of the book, the American government passed its first legislation on regulated food and drugs. This is an example of deception being used for greater good.

Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein used deception and vagaries throughout their investigation of the Watergate scandal. The reporters never revealed their most central and primary source. They lied to sources about what information they already had, convincing sources to confirm or deny hunches. The total outcome of their efforts, however, raised enough national attention and suspicion for an official investigation into President Nixon’s activities, bringing about the end to years of corruption and abuse of power.

While some of these people used questionable methods during their reporting, there were no fouls more important or obtrusive that those committed by those being studied. The journalists were acting in the interests of their audience, the group they are charged to protect. Seow Ting Lee concurs with this justification in his research in “Lying to Tell the Truth.” His research indicates that practicing journalists recognize, use and accept this type of behavior in their daily lives. His report shows journalists repeatedly claim justification for their use of deception because they were exposing more damaging injustices.

If practicing journalists today are continuing the same strategies from decades past with similar results and consequences, this type of activity can be expected to continue in the future. As long as this practice is used carefully, as it has been in the past, journalists should have no problem gathering credible and pertinent information from difficult sources.