Book Review: Undercover Reporting: The Truth about Deception

Abstract

Brooke Kroeger Undercover Reporting: The Truth about Deception. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 2012. 496 pp.Ethical journalism and the ethics of journalists have both become a central focus of discussion, whether it is in the newsroom or in the classroom. In the 24/7 news cycle reality, where the need to keep audiences attached to a particular news outlet is becoming the sole mantra and business model, it is often the scandal, the catastrophe, or the crisis that will bring the viewer, reader, or listener back. Sometimes, we need to take a moment to step back and critique what is happening in such a space, the results of those happenings, and the implications they give light to. Undercover Reporting provides such a moment.Originally, when I started reading through the text, it seemed to be a glorification of the art. Kroeger opens with, book unabashedly celebrates the great American tradition of undercover reporting and offers an argument . . . for the restoration of its once-honored place in the array of effective journalistic techniques (p. xv). At this point, I had to ask myself, Is Kroeger being a bit idealistic here? This question remained until I read the final chapter and realized that perhaps not; she is setting us up, forcing the reader to consider the ethical realities of journalism, particularly in the twenty-first century.This is why reading the introduction and final chapter to any book is so important. The preface presents a refreshing honesty. I would have liked it to also be more overt in reminding us that, even though we can glorify certain historical moments in the profession, heralding the power of the press to right wrongs and sway public opinion, we should approach each chapter in the book as a cautionary tale so the next generation of Blys and Sinclairs can do it better.Within the preface, the idea of deception comes up repeatedly. Kroeger states, Deception not only happens in the course of reporting undercover, it is intrinsic to the form. For would-be truth tellers, this is a shaky ground (p. xv).With this in mind, Kroeger walks us through her overall argument-that undercover journalism does serve a function and needs to be practiced (perhaps now more than ever)-and offers several case studies (in historical order) to support her claim. As the reader moves from case study to case study, each presenting a strong and precise examination of undercover work that exposed the realities of slavery, postslavery, turn-of-the-century working conditions, political exploits, and military actions, the discussions present two arguments intertwined (discussions that, pedagogically, are essential if one were to use this in the classroom):1. …