Shame or shame on shamers?

When should professional journalists join in public shaming?

If public officials try to keep public documents from the public or a greedy corporation is abusing its lowest paid workers, that’s a pile-on no-brainer.

But what about the guy who tried to shame people on the N train in New York City and wound up “shaming” the homeless and people with acne?

Or Justine Sacco, who tweeted, “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” and got fired after the public outrage?

Journalists need to decide whether it’s newsworthy or they are just piling on with people who vent their anger via the Internet as a cathartic.

To read the entire Kelly McBride article in Poynter.com, click on http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/326097/journalism-and-public-shaming-some-guidelines/