Scenario 1
I will ask her about them when she returns, and ask her politely if she can give those documents to me and take a look.
Scenario 2
Yes, I would do it. I think that first-hand experiences are more important and more accurate than any other information, such as interviews. And also, it will help me to write a better story and won’t miss an opportunity that the editor gave me
Scenario 3
1) I will not use those quotes as if I obtained them myself. I will try to think of other quotes by myself with similar meaning. Or if I am not able to do so, I will credit the written source in my feature story.
2) If I obtained the quotes from a web site, I will credit it at the end of my feature story.
#1 – Good plan.
#2 – That could present a problem. If you falsify information on a job application, you can be sued for fraud…along with your news organization. You’d be better off finding an inside source (or former employee).
#3 – If you use previously published material, credit a source immediately — in your story, not at the end of it.