Using the right word: A memo from the NPR standards editor says sexual abuse victims under 18 should be called girls and boys, not women and men, reports iMediaEthics.
Clarifications came when NPR listeners were upset about the language used in reporting on Jeffrey Epstein and R. Kelly.
Audience engagement: Chip Scanlan writes about the power of talking to people in person, “a step that might once have seemed banal, but now seems almost radical.”
“There’s no substitute, as any experienced journalist knows, for face-to-face encounters,” he writes. “Though phone or email interviews may sometimes be efficient or necessary…., only in person can an interviewer observe the nuances of body language, details of environment and give reassuring nods and smiles that create trust and intimacy.”
Paying for hyperlocal journalism: Christine Schmidt describes attempts to connect people with the community and engaging with them.
“The ultimate goal is, well, seeing if it can sustain the salary of a hyperlocal journalist,” she writes.
Combatting disinformation: How do journalists report on disinformation “without pouring gasoline on the fire?” asks Mathew Ingram.
Fact-checking efforts can have a boomerang effect and actually entrench a false belief in some cases, he writes.
Tech companies hide behind backgrounders: Silicon Valley tech companies control information using “on backgrounder” briefings, writes Brian Merchant.
“This is a toxic arrangement,” he writes. “The tactic shields tech companies from accountability,” free of risk.
The perils of identification: Obtaining permission is not the same as informed consent, writes Megan Frye.
A New York Times story about gang violence in Honduras including real names and photos is criticized for failing to recognize dangers.
Building an ethical culture at NPR: The NPR standards & practices editor tells Victoria Kwan about language usage, social media practices and urgent ethics issues.
“The bottom line is still fact-checking and verification,” says editor Mark Memmott. “Your credibility as a journalist will depend upon how well yo do those things, more than whether you’re the most clever writer or the fastest to spot a viral tweet.”
Sex crimes victims’ privacy: A Spanish woman kills herself when a sex video surfaces, causing a sensation in the Spanish press.
Meaghan Beatley reports a plea for ethics guidelines to cover gender violence. Spain’s Data Protection Agency moves to remove online revenge porn within 24 hours.
Happy newsrooms: Define your mission, then work with others with different mindsets and skills, writes Uli Koppen.
Interdisciplinary teams involve a lot of trial and error. A great experience and “a hell of a headache,” he writes.
Steps to collaborative journalism: “Collaborative projects focus on the experiences of affected people and represent exciting changes,” writes Emily Goligoski. Start with a revenue model.
Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists 