Before committing to undercover report, journalists should do a thorough preliminary investigation of their possible subjects. This includes mapping out the places they will go (if access is restricted), who and how they will approach their subject, what they will ask them to do and when. They should also consult a lawyer who specialises in media and publication law to establish whether invasion of privacy or deception will be legally permissible in the jurisdiction where they will operate.
They should also think about the long-term impact of their reporting, including what will happen after it is published and any legal consequences they may face. This could include the potential for their identity to be exposed and even potentially a lawsuit, which may require them to retain lawyers who can defend them.
Ultimately, undercover reporting can be an important tool for journalism when it’s used in the public interest to expose ill-treatment or abuse of power, and widespread corruption. But it should only be employed as a last resort after all other open reporting methods have failed, and after extensive discussion with colleagues about the ethical implications.
Undercover report can be highly effective in revealing the human stories behind societal problems, but it must always be done with due diligence. Journalists should carefully weigh the cost of breaching trust and privacy against the public benefit – and they should be fully transparent with audiences about how they achieved their findings. They should also make sure that they have a well-tested plan for what will happen if they are exposed, such as having someone close to them who can alert them to the risk and quickly end their ruse.