Flem274*
123/5
Tbh one of the first rules is bring a recording instrument every time you meet the subject. Hell, I recorded my row with Studylink on dictaphone. Any investigative journalist meeting a Pakistani cricketer is being silly if he doesn't record the conversation.Well, I started the debate, so I make the terms here
The point is though, that they launched a whole deceptive sting operation to get a measly quote. At the end of the day it isn't so much about publishing the comments but about the lying and deception that they employed for the sole purposes of getting a quote. Now by all means walk around in a groucho marx moustache if you're trying to bring down corruption and the like, but there's no way you can justify this sort of unethical crap for rubbish like this.
Also, you'd be surprised how much people run off at the mouth, especially when you say little. It's something we're taught to do pretty early in second year. Many people feel the need to say something to break the silence. From what I've heard about YH, he's perfect for that tactic.
As for lying about being a journalist, investigative journalists rarely admit their profession, It's counterproductive. And no journalist would get near the Pakistan team if they admitted who they were.
Atm there are undercover journalists all around the Pakistan team, waiting for a slip up. It isn't unethical, it's good journalism. Big stories don't come in one go, they come in bits and bobs. Open up the initial cracks and get the ball rolling then hide, dig for material, and wait for people to be people and get themselves in a hole.
NOTW made an interesting call to publish this story though, because while it adds to the pile of evidence against the fixers, it may have been smarter to save this and dig a little more for more dirt. The players will be even more paranoid now, but I guess whoever is directing this story must feel confident they have the right people in the right places to squeeze more juice out of this.