She cleared her throat, leaned forward slightly, bringing herself closer to the microphone, and then calmly and rationally began her counter-argument:
"First, I would like to address the loopholes in the esteemed opposition's debate."
She enumerated them methodically. Her golden-rimmed glasses lent her an air of intelligence and wit. Her hair, abundant even when tied back in a ponytail, had stray strands framing her forehead and ears, giving her a touch of ethereal charm. She pointed out a key flaw in the opposing side's argument: the conflation of journalistic ethics with personal morality. Certainly, if such obfuscation were the norm, then morality would always reign supreme. But journalistic ethics were different. For a journalist, was it more important to adhere strictly to moral principles and refrain from delving into the depths of a story, or to momentarily set aside journalistic ethics to uncover the true value of a news piece?
"I would like to ask the esteemed opposition: suppose a person of high standing, whom I know to be involved in the molestation of young girls, but for whom I have no evidence. To find this evidence, I must infiltrate his home and witness the further abuse of young girls, capturing his actions on film. Because of his high status, I dare not report him rashly, so I utilize online public opinion, allowing the matter to fester, ultimately achieving my goal of exposing and punishing him, thereby saving the young girls."
Her voice was cool and clear. She paused, letting a sense of pressure build. "At this moment, I have violated journalistic ethics and societal morality, but I have made this news meaningful, guiding the situation towards its rightful conclusion. While such actions are not encouraged, within the context of our debate today, I believe this precisely demonstrates the superior importance of journalistic value. Through this incident, the nation will place greater emphasis, parents will be more vigilant, and even young girls will possess a stronger sense of self-protection. I sacrificed my own morality, even if I faced public condemnation, even if I were eventually charged for trespassing, I would not believe that I should have adhered to journalistic ethics and performed my duties in a conventional manner."
"Violating journalistic ethics to uncover journalistic value might be seen by some as selfishly calculated behavior, but that is a narrow perspective, a condemnation of unscrupulous journalists. In reality, anyone with a compassionate heart who chooses to set aside journalistic ethics for the sake of journalistic value does not suffer less internally. However, to ensure that news serves its intended purpose and exerts its due influence, journalistic ethics are merely put aside, temporarily. As journalists, we must always carry them within us, but if I had to choose, I would temporarily set aside journalistic ethics for the sake of value."
The opposing side seemed taken aback by her unconventional approach, but they were experienced debaters and quickly identified the sophistry in her argument. The two sides plunged back into a fierce exchange.
When time ran out, both sides' fourth speakers delivered their concluding remarks, and the judges proceeded to tally the scores.
Su Yue stood on the stage, one hand clutching the crumpled piece of paper on which she had written a wrong character, the other resting on the podium, breathing lightly with a hint of nervousness. It was then that she remembered Chen Ziming had likely arrived, so she glanced towards the audience and saw him immediately.
He wore a simple white t-shirt with a brand logo on the chest, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his seat, his gaze fixed on her. Su Yue was a little nearsighted; even with glasses, she couldn't quite make out the expression in his eyes, but it didn't matter, nor did she particularly care. She quickly shifted her gaze, turning to a quiet discussion with her third speaker about the just-concluded battle.
The host then took the stage. After tallying the scores, he dramatically built suspense before finally announcing:
"This round's winner is—the debaters from the Journalism Department! Congratulations!"
Upon hearing this, Su Yue and her teammates were overjoyed. The opposing side sighed with a touch of resignation but then approached to shake hands with them, extending their congratulations generously.
Su Yue couldn't suppress the smile on her face. After gathering her belongings, she followed her teammates off the stage and out the door.
"Yueyue!" Li Niannian was waiting, along with Chen Cheng. Su Yue and her teammates made plans to go barbecuing in the suburbs together on Saturday to celebrate. Afterward, she said goodbye to them.