Get The Ink Out:

Some days when we are planning the paper I wish we journalists could time travel like the Doctor so we could know how much news we’ll have from one day to the next, or so we can go back in time to make sure we get that one amazing scoop.

But then I realize that having a TARDIS might distract us because inevitably we’ll visit events we wish we could be a part of — World War II, Shakespeare’s plays performed with him backstage, the end of the Earth in the year 5 billion — if you believe that sort of thing.

Then I think what if we journalists could predict the future?

We could be at the scene of any major event, ready to get details and pictures.

Then I thought, “What if it were something bad? Like a car accident?” That’s a whole can of ethics worms.

Would a reporter and photographer try to prevent the accident? Or set themselves up to be in a position to capture as many details as possible?

I would like to think the vast majority of us would do our best to keep something bad from happening. I know I would.

After all, we’re human, too, despite what some may think. No, in this case, Rose, the Daleks do not control the news organizations worldwide.

Thank goodness they don’t. I’d hate to hear “Exterminate!” before every commercial break.

Back to my ethical argument, in stopping the bad event what have we done? What if that child we saved from drowning grows up to become a serial killer? What if the child of the mother who didn’t die in the car accident doesn’t go on to develop a better system of brakes or automatic seat belts to save countless lives?

OK, I bet you’re thinking, “If journalists can see the future, they can stop the serial killer too! And if journalists can see the future, we don’t need better brakes or automatic seat belts!”

I contend that it would be much like a super hero being in the right place at the right time every time. It’s just impossible.

And if nothing bad ever happens, would we grow as a society? No, we would stagnate and become comfortable with whatever quality of life we’ve achieved. No more technological gadgets to make our lives easier because society would have no reason to better itself, now that the journalists are around to save the day, every day.