When tragedy struck the University of Idaho campus last November, nobody could have anticipated the swarm of cameras and out-of-town reporters that converged onto the UI campus and downtown Moscow.
However, students have been less than happy with the extra attention in regard to those still on campus and have been active about it on social media.
Michelle Weston, a Washington State University graduate student studying sociology stated that she was “absolutely heartbroken and exhausted by all the speculation, blame, and general bad behavior found in online and media discourse about the case,” via Reddit, where many community members have been sharing their frustrations with the media and the tabloid press.
“Many of our campus community felt the outside presence of media was very invasive,” Dean of Students Blaine Eckles said.
Eckles’ office handles several complaints and concerns fielded from the students. Over email, they have provided guidance to students on how to avoid press if you do not want to comment.
“I knew simple direct approach would be to address what some of the concerns I was hearing from and give basic, simple guidance on how to address it,” Eckles said.
In order to avoid the press, Eckles stated to “Remember, there is no obligation nor expectation for you to provide a comment.”
But, despite the issues students have with the press on campus, their presence in public spaces is neither illegal nor unethical.
“It is perfectly ethical to approach people and ask questions,” said emeritus professor Steven Smith. “It’s perfectly ethical to knock on doors. It’s perfectly ethical to try to contact witnesses, or in this case, survivors, respecting the responses that you get, if you approach somebody and they say no.”
However, issues came up when these members of the press attempted to get into places that were not public spaces.
“There were reporters from the national and international press that were trying to get past police lines to get into or around or close to Kohberger’s apartment during the execution of search warrants,” Smith said.
The SPJ Code of Ethics says that reporters should “Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.”
“It’s (the SPJ Code) the mother code,” Smith said. “Most news organizations have modified it to meet their own needs.”
But not every organization meets those requirements. Anonymous resident assistant sources have stated that information was given to them by university Housing and Residence Life that members of the press were dressing as students and attempting to break into private dorm spaces.
Smith also mentioned a Daily Mail photo among the examples of poor press behavior.
“The Daily Mail (photo) is one of the most appalling things that I’ve seen, use long range lenses to take pictures in Boise of one of the survivors, and then sexualized it, which is just doubling down on ridiculously unethical behavior,” Smith said.
For advice on how to cover these issues ethically, Smith said to stick to the facts.
“I always try to operate from a premise of facts,” Smith said. “What do I know what I don’t know? And if I don’t know it, I don’t comment on it.”
Abigail Spencer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @ABairdSpencer