Q&A: Reporting to the Media
Reporting to the Media
Question
Hello Rabbi,
A senior official in the municipality is carrying out illegal construction and all sorts of other stunts, and is also somewhat intimidating the neighbors. Is it permissible to report him to the media?
The enforcement authorities are cooperating with him, and there isn’t enough money—and there’s also some fear—to begin an exhausting legal process.
A friend who is a reporter is willing to take the story on.
Answer
Absolutely. Why not?
Discussion on Answer
And when you call the police and tell them there’s a thief in your house, isn’t that harmful speech that happens to be true? That’s the only way you have to prevent your property from being stolen!! What does that have to do with slander / harmful speech?? Apparently this is what was meant by, "Do not be overly righteous."
Of course you have to be careful about all the halakhic conditions. For example, not to exaggerate.
I can testify about myself that once I approached the media, and they explicitly asked me to exaggerate.
So it’s worth being careful.
I don’t know—what about slander / harmful speech, even when it’s true?
Anyone who opens the Chafetz Chaim should be concerned, no?