I do not believe that it is right for reporters to "lurk" online as the OJR Article suggessts. Although reporters can argue that this is a means of research, I think that better and more direct methods could be used by reporters.
The example used, in my opinion, was not a great way to gather information. The reporter became part of a community for teens while she was in her thirties, and after time, revealed that she was a reporter. If her argument was solely based on the simplicity of giving false information online, then I might view that as more practical. However, Egan only lightly toched the subject of identity fraud, and therefore I think that she could have perhaps found a better way to contact people to interview.
Posted by Sarah Rosenberg at October 5, 2003 02:56 PM