Press Council: Undercover research by "K-Tipp" journalist defended
Journalists are allowed to conduct undercover research if there is sufficient public interest in the reporting. This is the conclusion reached by the Press Council in the case of a "K-Tipp" journalist who attended two information events for controversial personality courses.
In November 2009, the journalist took part in two information evenings at the "Business Academy". Although she did this under her real name, she did not disclose her profession. She then published an article in the consumer magazine "K-Tipp" entitled "Das Business mit den Träumen" (The business with dreams) about the company's business practices. The article stated that the company was selling personality courses for CHF 6,800 under a different name, namely "Corporation Unlimited". The company lured interested parties with the promise that they could earn up to 8,000 francs a month with little effort by referring new customers.
The Press Council has now rejected a complaint by the "Business Academy" against the journalist's undercover approach. "Undercover research is permissible in exceptional cases if there is an overriding public interest in the information researched and if this information cannot be obtained in any other way," the Press Council wrote in a press release on Tuesday.
In this case, both conditions were met. As the "Business Academy" has been litigating against the "K-Tipp" for some time, the journalist would probably have been thrown out of the room immediately if the investigation had been open or the event would have taken a different course, argues the Press Council. It also rates the information value of the investigation as high: Warning the public about the dubious, legally controversial business model of the company based in the Caribbean is important. There is a large gap between the company's self-portrayal and the external portrayal of various consumer protection media.
The Press Council has now rejected a complaint by the "Business Academy" against the journalist's undercover approach. "Undercover research is permissible in exceptional cases if there is an overriding public interest in the information researched and if this information cannot be obtained in any other way," the Press Council wrote in a press release on Tuesday.
In this case, both conditions were met. As the "Business Academy" has been litigating against the "K-Tipp" for some time, the journalist would probably have been thrown out of the room immediately if the investigation had been open or the event would have taken a different course, argues the Press Council. It also rates the information value of the investigation as high: Warning the public about the dubious, legally controversial business model of the company based in the Caribbean is important. There is a large gap between the company's self-portrayal and the external portrayal of various consumer protection media.
