EOTO #3: Reaction "Gotcha" Journalism

 "Gotcha" journalism is a tactic described as methods used to trap the interviewee into making statements that damage or discredit their character. That is the simple definition but there is nothing simple about using this method. 

Gotcha Journalism can be traced back to the 1930's but it wasn't until the 1980's when journalist Paul Taylor went off the script. He had asked Gary Hart if he had ever committed adultery before. 

A question this personal had never been asked in an interview setting creating Taylor to be the precedent of "Gotcha" journalism. 

A gotcha question has to do two things The first is to be an accusatory question. The second is to undercut the persons character and put them in a tough position. 

There have been many advances in the world of gotcha journalism. With new technology there are more and more ways to catch someone in a bad light. Hidden cameras have become a popular method. Reporters will bug the room with them and then ask gotcha questions and hope to catch the interviewee slip up to later leak to the public. 

This can also be a method of whistleblowing because the reporter exposed something that was supposed to be private or "off the record". 

"Ambush" journalism is very similar to "gotcha" journalism in the sense that the interviewee cant escape. This type of journalism means ambushing someone where they least expect to get interviewed and sort of trapping them in the moment to answer questions. We see this a lot with celebrities and politicians. 

News reporters can run up to them in any setting and have the cameras rolling while spit firing questions at the person. This can cause the person to become flustered and maybe reveal something that wasn't supposed to be shared with the public. 

Another popular example of "gotcha" journalism is when President Bush was asked about cocaine use. Either way the interviewee answers the question they are immediately put in a lose- lose situation. 

If they answer the question truthfully, then they are revealing their scandalous details about their life. On the other hand if they don't answer people assume they are up to no good and hiding something which is not an insane thing to believe. 

"Gotcha" journalism is a good tactic for reporters but where do we draw the line. The types of gotcha journalism ranges from leaked documents to body camera footage to undercover journalists. There are so many ways for reporters to squeeze information out of the person under the microscope. 

"Gotcha" journalism can be a good and bad thing. It can reveal the truth and uncover the secrets a political or celebrity may be keeping, but it can also ruin someones reputation. 

https://www.npr.org/2015/11/10/453978299/gotcha-cant-politicians-handle-tough-questions

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/02/24/a-brief-history-of-the-gotcha-question/