Chatroom used to expose politician

An intense debate about journalism ethics is developing in the US after a newspaper used a gay chatroom to expose a mayor facing child molestation charges.

Spokane's daily newspaper - the Spokesman-Review - employed a forensic computer expert to pose as a 17-year-old man in order to verify accusations from an 18-year-old that the mayor, Jim West, had offered him favours including a City Hall internship after meeting him in a gay chatroom.

But some American journalism academics have questioned the ethics of using such a tactic. Quoted in the Seattle Times, lecturers in ethics have described the tactic as 'a risk' and 'not an appropriate role for journalists'.

However, Cleland Thom, a British journalism trainer with 25 years of experience in investigative journalism, feels that the action was justified. "I don't think it would raise too many ethical issues for a journalist in this country. It's not really any different from bugging a phone - the PCC Code of Practice allows this in the public interest. And in terms of privacy, I would be surprised if anyone genuinely thought that an internet chatroom was a place where they had a reasonable expectation of privacy.

"As I understand it, the Spokesman-Review used computer technology and a level of deception to catch the mayor in the act, and I have no problem with that at all. I don't think they entrapped him. There was a genuine public interest issue - an under-18 was involved, and the mayor appeared to be misusing his office by offering favours.”

Editor of the Spokesman-Review Steven Smith stated: "Under ordinary circumstances, the newspaper would not use a fictional scenario in pursuit of a news story. But the seriousness of the allegations and the need for specific computer forensic skills overrode our general reluctance."

The accusations came as the mayor faced claims that he sexually molested children in the 1970s while he was a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy and Boy Scout leader. Mr West denies all allegations of under-age sex but admits having private online relationships through Gay.com.

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