ABSTRACT
Journalists assume an awesome responsibility when writing about people who, sometimes for reasons beyond their control, briefly enter the public eye. They should never lose sight of the humanity of the people they encounter and write about, regardless of the circumstances. The Golden Rule applies to journalism as well as life, and empathy can be just as important as accuracy in dealing with the subjects of stories. The people in the stories are real, and they must be treated with respect and dignity. Chapter 14 discusses instances where journalists acted improperly and sometimes illegally in their encounters with ordinary people caught in unfortunate or horrific situations.
