WIBU to go to the papers about someone

[Sadie789]

I wish I could tell the story as it would help greatly but the details would be far too outing, but I’ve found out something about a friend which has made my blood boil and I don’t think they should get away with it.

Normally I wouldn’t be a “snitch” but this person has a high profile position especially at the moment, and has done something pretty heinous not to mention some other unethical things as a result of the heinous thing.

The reason I’m considering the papers is that this person was interviewed just a few weeks ago and painted as a bit of a local hero, which they absolutely are not.

They’re a friend of a friend so some of the details If they got out would lead back to my friend and then to me.

Has anyone ever gone to the paper about something? How did you feel afterwards? Did you get anonymity?

Just do point out this is not a “neighbour went for a 40 mile cycle in lockdown” type story.

[Alialialiali]

A heinous thing you say? Yes well a heinous thing should be reported. Now if it is truly heinous then it'd probably need to be reported to the police otherwise... I suppose it's just your opinion, which I'm sure you trust... but I don't neccessarily so I'm not sure what you want us to say...

[3cats]

Sorry for misunderstanding about AS.

I think it's very difficult for people to give advice without knowing the details.

Good luck to you in making your decision though.

[CoachBombay]

The journalists on here promising anonymity because it's the journalist code and no journalist ever would, are making massive assumptions.

Many, many sources have been identified. Also you may protect your source but not the collateral damage of your stories, who then go on to be hounded by press.

My experience is probably very jaded because they made my life hell, when I had done nothing wrong but still I have always thought the press were shady at the best of times.

[ChilliCheese123]

@onalongsabbatical not every single journalist no. I’m assuming OP wants to sell her story to the daily mail etc

[IrmaFayLear]

It sounds more of a local interest, tbh. If it's a high profile person, as opposed to a well-known (not D list) celebrity, who has done something Covid-y, then I think the media has had its fill of Dominic Cummings and will be moving on to different types of stories.

If, say, the Mayor of my town (no idea who it is) had visited a secret massage parlour during lockdown that would be something for the local paper to cover and might make page 7 of a national paper if they had a slow news day.

[IrmaFayLear]

You say "local hero". It's not Captain Tom, is it? .

[onalongsabbatical]

LOL Captain Tom's shady past!

[GrumpyHoonMain]

If this is about someone well known and high up in government who has been spotted all over the shop across Scotland , then you definitely should report it.

[TitianaTitsling]

Oh no! Not Captain Tom! Scrolled back to beginning as thought ive maybe missed something op wrote this person was interviewed just a few weeks ago and painted as a bit of a local hero, which they absolutely are not.. So was the interview about the 'heinous' non-crime, or are you just unhappy they are getting positive attention which you don't think they should?

[BeltaneBride]

Pretty obvious who AS is if it's Scotland and 'heinous' 😀

[ddl1]

It depends hugely what it is. If it's something that could endanger the public, then you may have a duty to 'whistleblow'. But I'd be cautious about going to the press, as many papers can seriously distort matters and cause serious problems for the innocent as well as the guilty. And if this is under criminal investigation: sometimes sensational reporting can make it more difficult to arrange a fair trial, and may even make it more likely that the perpetrator will go free. I would prefer to go to the police in the first instance and/or perhaps to their relevant professional disciplinary organization if it involves abuse of position as a doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc. Also, are there specific victims in the case, and would they be OK with the press being informed? In some situations, the papers can treat the victim as badly as the perpetrator. I'm not saying that one should NEVER go to the press; but I would advise you to think very carefully before deciding to do so.

[WyfOfBathe]

@Sadie789

I think it’s interesting lots of posters don’t think something is in the public interest unless the person is famous.

It depends on the story. Of course "headteacher locks children in cupboard" would be in the public interest even if nobody outside the school had heard of the head.

But you used the Dominic Cummings story as a parallel. That was in the public interest to report because of his role. Lots of other people have broken lockdown without it making headline news. "Bob, the retired gardener who was hailed a hero in the local rag for rescuing a cat from a tree, drove to Durham" probably wouldn't be in the public interest - or of interest to journalists/the public.

What impact do you expect the story to have on the public? What will the public gain from knowing the story?

[Pomegranateseeds]

Surely press woupd only need an anon tip off to look into and could find out the rest themselves?
Depending what it is obviously,I think I would.

[TerrapinStation]

@GreyGardens88

No one's gonna care if it's not someone famous

No one had heard of, for example, Harold Shipman, do you think no one cared when his crimes came to light?

And for a more topical example - Derek Chauvin

[GreyGardens88]

No one had heard of, for example, Harold Shipman, do you think no one cared when his crimes came to light?

And for a more topical example - Derek Chauvin

OP's already said the person has been investigated by police but what they've done is not illegal, so I think you're way off the mark with those examples

[JaniceBattersby]

You simply cannot speak for every journalist. Not all journalists have your integrity or ethics. Journalism, just like every profession has it's gossips, it's "If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone else's...", and some downright unethical people.

No but 99 per cent of journalists won’t reveal a source. If someone came on here saying they didn’t want to go to a doctor about a problem because the doctor might tell the receptionist then people would tell them that’s silly. Journalists take their sources just as seriously.

[AnneOfTeenFables]

Journalists do not give sources up. Sources are sacrosanct
There is a massive difference between a journalist 'giving up a source' and the OP never being connected to the story or people not gossiping about who is behind a story or those on the opposing side of a story working to uncover who leaked/placed a story. It's disingenuous to pretend otherwise. If OP can't bear to be linked to this, then they probably shouldn't take it to the media.
Of course, the entire point of this thread may be for the media to contact the OP on MN. And OP may get lucky with that.

[Sadie789]

Thanks everyone. I’ve decided not to do anything just now.

I think there’s a real chance this person will do some more things that will get them into trouble at some point, and the papers will do their thing.

Karma will sort it.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"If someone came on here saying they didn’t want to go to a doctor about a problem because the doctor might tell the receptionist then people would tell them that’s silly. "

Because health comes first and you have to see a doctor even if confidentiality isn't guaranteed. Would I believe that no doctor ever gossips about their patients? No, I wouldn't because I know that some do in an anonymised way and it might occasionally be possible for someone who work out who the patient is.

[Barryisland]

Is this actually a real thing that has happened or is it made up?
Either tell us so we can advise or dont start a thread about it in the first place.