Ethical Reporting and the Realities of Trafficking in Persons for Forced Criminality

In July 2025, Mechelle B.J. Moore, CEO of Global Alms Incorporated, participated in a two‑day workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP). The workshop focused on ethical journalism, client safety, trauma‑informed interviewing and the growing issue of trafficking in persons for forced criminality.

The event titled, “Workshop on Trafficking in Persons for Forced Criminality into Scam Centres”, brought together journalists, media practitioners and regional experts to examine the complex dynamics of victims coerced into unlawful acts such as online scams, and the vital role of the press in exposing and framing such cases.

Language, empathy and responsibility are at the heart of ethical reporting,” Ms Moore remarked. “When covering stories involving survivors of trafficking, journalists have the power either to protect or to retraumatise. Ethical, trauma‑informed reporting ensures that victims’ dignity and safety are never compromised.”

Ms Moore joined panellist Cezary Podkul and moderator Dr Rebecca Miller.

Ms Moore joined panellist Cezary Podkul and moderator Dr Rebecca Miller in discussions about the responsibilities and ethical challenges facing journalists covering trafficking‑linked crime.

Participants explored best practices for trauma‑informed interviews, the importance of confidentiality and how to avoid sensationalism or re‑victimatisation. The workshop served as a timely reminder that media coverage can influence public perception, legal outcomes, and the safety of vulnerable individuals.

The Role of Journalists Against Corruption

Beyond human trafficking, the workshop also sat at the convergence of another key agenda: anti‑corruption journalism. The UNODC ROSEAP has emphasised the role of investigative media in exposing corruption, misconduct and systemic abuse across Southeast Asia. According to a UNODC ROSEAP article titled, “Investigative journalism at the frontline of anti-corruption fight in Southeast Asia", journalists are increasingly acting as pivotal actors in holding power to account (UNODC ROSEAP, 2025).

One central mechanism in this regard is the Journalists Against Corruption (JAC) Network. The JAC was launched to empower reporters to conduct anti‑corruption investigations, facilitate cross‑border cooperation and strengthen the capacity of media to shine light where corruption hides. As one commentary explains, the Network “serves as a catalyst for empowering journalists on anti‑corruption related investigations and facilitates cross‑border cooperation with other journalists in uncovering corruption" (UNODC ROSEAP, 2025).

By combining journalism’s watchdog role with the trafficking workshop’s focus, the event underlined a broader theme: forced criminality, trafficking and corruption are inter‑linked. Scam centres, coerced labour, money‑laundering and procurement fraud all share common enabling conditions: weak governance, lack of oversight, victim‑vulnerability, and media blind‑spots. Equipping journalists with both ethical reporting skills and anti‐corruption investigation tools helps to address the problem from multiple fronts.

Why This Matters

• Forced criminality through scam centres is a human‑trafficking issue: victims are compelled to commit offences, often under threat, coercion or deception. Without proper reporting, their plight remains invisible.

• Journalists must navigate ethical minefields: protecting client safety, avoiding sensationalism, building trust, and applying trauma‑informed methods.

• Corruption often underpins trafficking and organised crime: lack of oversight, complicity of officials, illicit profit flows, these are all areas where investigative journalism plays a critical role.

• Regional workshops build capacity and networks: Bringing together journalists from across Southeast Asia creates a community of practice, facilitates information‑sharing, and strengthens media’s role in the public interest.

  
  

Looking Ahead

Ms Moore expressed her gratitude to UNODC ROSEAP and the organisers:

“It was a privilege to work alongside respected colleagues and friends who share a commitment to truth, justice, and human dignity. Thank you to UNODC ROSEAP for this incredible opportunity to strengthen ethical journalism in our region.”

As media continues to play a central role in shaping public perception and policy around both human trafficking and corruption, initiatives like this workshop, and networks like JAC are essential. They ensure that every story told is not only true, but also safe, respectful, and impact‑oriented.