Even support for the sporadic “badgering or harassing of unwilling informants” fell from 48.8 percent to 37.7 percent.

So in other words, around 48.8 percent of reporters believe reporters should avoid engaging in acts of journalism.

The Atlantic categorizes this trend as a “more moral” press. I doubt it. If you harbor ethical dilemmas about bending rules that were constructed by people engaged in wrongdoing, or if you feel the need to ask permission to bring important and useful information to the public, you’re in the wrong business. If you’re too polite to harass someone for an answer or confront them with uncomfortable questions, you’d undoubtedly be more satisfied working as a flack. And that’s exactly what many journalists end up doing.

Which is one reason I suspect journalists are less inclined to engage in “controversial” measures when gathering news. It’s got little to do with an improving ethical disposition in newsrooms and everything to do with careerism. For many, the reporting job is merely a step toward a big payday, a cushy gig working in PR or politics. I don’t begrudge them this, but oftentimes these long-term plans interfere with journalistic integrity.