A Question of Editorial Ethics

Posted on by Larry

This question about editorial ethics arrived this morning. What would you do?

– – –

The editor writes: Here’s the brief version of my story.

Some time ago a local law firm was given my name and number, and they contacted me to put together a video that they wanted to help make their case in a wrongful death suit against nearby county police. A man was shot and killed by police after he led numerous officers on a high speed chase that endangered the officers themselves and other drivers. The law firm contacting me represented the family. They had car cam and body cam footage they got from the police. I had never done this type of thing before, but I took on the job because a friend had referred me – and I could use the money. It became clear to me that the law firm wanted me to do some selective editing such as shortening the actual time of the chase, omitting certain footage from the chase (ramming police cars), and omitting post shooting moments when a couple of the police officers expressed regret, (one even getting physically sick) and another began praying. As a ‘test’ of sorts, I kept some of these sequences in the video because I wanted to see if the client (the law firm) would specifically tell me to take them out. They did.

I get the fact that this law firm had a duty to the man’s family (their client), and their desire to keep the video brief and to the point for a jury. But I have to say it didn’t set well with me. Still doesn’t obviously.

Yes, whenever we work on a video project – in the writing, shooting, editing, etc – we are manipulating the presentation of something. But this was different for me. Life and death situation. Concealing bits of truth here and there as I saw it.

I’ve learned that I will NEVER undertake a project like this again.

I’m just curious about your take on such my ethical dilemma (given the scant info I’ve given) – and the thoughts of your followers.

– – –

Larry replies: WOW! What a great question. I have never been confronted by this issue in real-life, so it is easy to take the moral high-ground. Plus, I totally understand the pressure to pay the bills.

Hmm… My take is that each of us is responsible for the choices we make. If I had the money to pay that month’s rent, I would have turned down the job – especially as it became obvious that the video was intentionally deceptive. It seems to me this is similar to political ads which are intentionally deceptive in an effort to curry votes. I don’t mind people who disagree with issues I believe in. But I have great difficulty with people who lie or invent false “truth” to make their point.

On the other hand, feeding and housing your family takes priority over everything else. If this job allowed you to keep a roof over your family and keep them fed, then I’d take the job. Though just because you “have” to take the job doesn’t mean you have to like it.

This is situational ethics, I guess. But, for me, you make your choices based on your priorities and whether you can live with yourself afterward.

The editor replied: Did I need the money? I convinced myself I did. Was the job worth the “cost”? No.

Larry adds: Please share your thoughts in the comments.


Bookmark the permalink.

23 Responses to A Question of Editorial Ethics

← Older Comments
  1. Mike Raff says:

    I’m wondering if this is less a question of ethics than of communication.

    The job seemed reasonable as described when the editor agreed to do the work. When the editor became uncomfortable with the product, did he express his feelings to the client? If so, then the lawyer could have explained that both sides had access to all the same footage and that in representing the family, the lawyer wanted to show only the footage that supported their case, but that the police would have the opportunity to show all of the “missing” footage that told the other side of the story. (Indeed, the lawyer could have explained this before the editor took the job, but clearly didn’t.)

    Would this have assuaged the editor’s conscience? Only he can say.

    • Larry says:

      Mike:

      I agree that communication both before and after taking the job is important.

      I have truly enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. I’ve learned a lot. Thanks for contributing.

      Larry

← Older Comments

Leave a Reply to Larry Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Larry Recommends:

FCPX Complete

NEW & Updated!

Edit smarter with Larry’s latest training, all available in our store.

Access over 1,900 on-demand video editing courses. Become a member of our Video Training Library today!

JOIN NOW

Subscribe to Larry's FREE weekly newsletter and save 10%
on your first purchase.