Do Reporters Use Napster?

from the yup dept

An article in the SF Chronicle talking about reporters using Napster. The writer poses the question that if a reporter is writing about shoplifting, he or she wouldn't go out and shoplift, would they? Then the reporter goes out and questions a ton of other reporters from other publications to see how they rationalize their Napster use. Most reporters defend their use of Napster saying either that (1) it's not officially theft yet (2) they buy the music they download (3) it's just a research tool - like driving a car if you write about the automobile industry or (4) it's still possible to be balanced, even when you have an opinion - like covering an election if you're a registered Democrat or Republican.
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