University of Dayton media ethics expert Chad Painter is available to discuss the “chilling effect” of the Justice Department’s investigation into a Washington Post journalist, warning that the agency likely violated both protocol and the law.
As news breaks regarding the Justice Department’s seizure of records from a Washington Post journalist, questions regarding source protection and government overreach are at the forefront of the national conversation.
University of Dayton Associate Professor of Communication Chad Painter, who serves on the national board reviewing the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics, says the move represents a dangerous deviation from standard legal and ethical protocols.
“Reporting on the government and serving as the public’s watchdog are central and vital functions of a free press, and the free flow of information from sources is an important, and protected, part of that process,” Painter said.
Painter, who co-authored the book Media Ethics: Issues and Cases, warns that such actions by the government can have long-lasting consequences for the Fourth Estate.
“Here, the Justice Department did not follow its own protocol, and most likely the law, which could have a chilling effect on speech from sources and the press itself,” he said.
Media who would like to interview Painter can email mediarelations@udayton.edu.