Abstract

Some of the best journalism - investigative reporting in particular - results from personal feelings of wanting revenge, which can be an aspect of the ethical duty to promote justice. It may be either wanting revenge for a wrong against society or rather against journalism and freedom of speech and press. Using the Arizona Project as an example in which investigative reporters and editors responded to the murder of reporter Don Bolles, I suggest that journalists, adhering to the virtues of their practice, can transform personal vengeance into public and professional good. Teachings of moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre offer the practicing journalist a means of doing this; and the Arizona Project offers today's journalists an excellent example of MacIntyrean practice