And, the moral of the story is …

TO MOST people, the idea of uni students conjures up images of drunken youths sleeping off hangovers during lectures, not of ethical and moral behaviour.
But a group of students from Monash University Berwick went out to prove this stereotype wrong, with the help of Star News reporter, Shaun Inguanzo.
Last Monday, the Dandenong Star reporter, visited the university to teach students the art of writing and reporting ethically.
Mr Inguanzo asked the group: “Why do you want to be a journalist?”
The overwhelming response from students was to keep the people informed. Remembering why you want to be a journalist, he said, is the key to acting with morality, in even the most difficult and challenging situations.
There had been times during his career that people had tempted him to act unethically, he told the group of 15 second and third-year students.
Instances where he was offered free gifts to promote products, or urged to run stories with little factual basis.
But, Mr Inguanzo said, he had always come back to that central question, and found himself faced with a responsible answer.
He said it wasn’t about receiving perks, or making oneself look good, but rather a desire to keep the community informed and entertained without bias.
Mr Inguanzo then discussed with students several real life situations where ethics have come into question, including the recent controversy over leaked AFL medical documents, and the APEC summit. He left the students with a few words of wisdom, reminding them that they are ultimately the ones responsible for their choices.