JS&IP Section 17

Clandestine Operations

In rare situations when a story is of high public interest and the News Director has reasonable and probable cause to believe, and does believe that a Subject has lied to a Journalist, or, when the News Director has probable cause to believe, and does believe that through the regular course of operations, a Journalist identifying themselves as such would undermine, interfere or obstruct the search for the truth, then, in either such case the News Director may authorize and approve a clandestine operation.

In a Clandestine Operation the Journalist may hide their credentials, or not identify as a Journalist, the Journalist may outright deny being a Journalist, and the Journalist may in fact pose as, or seek employment and go undercover as another profession altogether.

In a Clandestine Operation the Journalist may access private property without prior disclosure of their role. A Journalist may use surreptitious audio and video equipment. A Journalist may take any other reasonable steps to protect the investigation into the story.