Recently, I decided to write about student cooks on campus for my Reporting for Mass Media class. I specifically want to focus on the students in Rosie's Diner & Rations. For research, I sat in the diner and observed everything about the students cooks and the customers they deal with every day.
The next day, I asked one of the student workers for information about the manager. I was given a name and told that she was one of the nicest people I would ever meet. I recorded this information and went along with my daily routine. Later that day, I asked a different student for the best time to speak with the manager (using the full name that I was given earlier), and I was pointed in the right direction.
From speaking with the manager, I found out that I couldn't speak with anyone employed in the department unless it was approved by the dining services director. On the other hand, one of the student workers told me something that I'm assuming he thought would be helpful. "You could always ask one of us to speak with you after we clock out."
My Train of Thought:
Technically, he wouldn't be an employee of dining services if I spoke with him outside of the diner. It wouldn't really cause any conflicts with that department. Besides, it's just a class assignment.
While I am keeping this option in mind, I don't like to burn bridges (specifically ones that haven't been created yet). I am currently trying to get in contact with the director of dining services because it's just the ethical thing to do. Simply, it just feels right.
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2 comments:
Ray,
What's your reasoning associated with speaking to the manage?. You said it's the ethical thing to do but did not explain it.
I think it was a gut feeling really. I didn't want the dining services director to think the story would focus on the diner's services. Rather it would focus on the lives of student cooks.
So I think my reasoning was basically to make the director feel comfortable with a journalist speaking with his employees.
By the way, I have yet to receive a response from the director.
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