Romenesko

NPR.org
Many NPR listeners wanted to give money after hearing a story about a man who risked his life to sneak into the US to earn cash for a sick daughter. How should NPR and other news outlets handle offers of help from listeners? asks ombud Alicia Shepard. "There really isn't a formula," says NPR's Andi Sporkin. "You want to help but you also have to be careful. It's a fine line. Whoever the person is that listeners want to help has opened up their lives to you and you don't want to expose them to rip-off artists or people who will take advantage of them. You need to size up each situation."