An Ethic of Advocacy: Metajournalistic Discourse on the Practice of Leaks and Whistleblowing from Valerie Plame to the Trump Administration

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes the metajournalistic discourse surrounding leaks and whistleblowing crafted by online journalism industry publications since 2004. The goal of the study is to understand how journalism has discursively shaped itself as an institution vis-à-vis the meta-ethical norms surrounding the use of leaks and whistleblowing sources. Findings suggest that journalism has embraced an advocacy role with leaks despite (or perhaps because of) ethical contradictions surrounding reporters’ relationships with leakers and whistleblowers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.