1/ A journalists first priority is public interest. Police corruption is a major issue and should be reported in a case as serious as this. It does however put the journalist in a tough position as they jeapordise their beat. If your media organisation is then excluded from police media, editor and senior police meetings are common. It is important to try and maintain good relationships with the police media in order to get the best information, but a journalists first duty is to the public.
2/ Journalists should not bow to ultimatums from the story subject. I would try to refer the woman to facilities that can help her, such as counselling or mental health retreats. Another option is to avoid publishing her name. See if you can come to a compromise.
3/If your paper reports all such cases then the journalist should report the issue. It will appeal to human interest. A journalist should sum up whether the story is newsworthy and of public concern before printing it. Journalists should not treat people differently because they are famous or esteemed. Nobody is above the law and everyone, including celebrities, should be punished if they commit crimes. Part of this punishment is dealing with the ramifications and bad press. It would be unethical to accept gifts and not print the story.
4/ Get whatever information you can, contact details of the juror and take the matter to your superiors in the news room. A chief of staff is in a better position to decide whether the matter should be reported or not. Certainly it is in the publics interest to know about a corrupt legal system and police force. A case as big as this should definitely be reported on.
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