Doubting the fact-checkers: Pew Research Center finds that Republicans and Democrats react differently to fact-checkers.
“Overall, Americans are split in their views of fact-checkers,” reports the center.
Category Archives: Accuracy
A Scary State In Newspaper Journalism
A scary state in newspaper journalism: Potential buyers pass on the fading Youngstown Vindicator, “and that’s scary as hell,” writes Joshua Benton.
The energy in the newspaper business for the past half-decade-plus has been toward consolidation, he writes. Lack of interest in the 150-year-old Vindicator might indicate consolidators decided that “financially there’s nothing of value left to consolidate.”
Use Of Graphic Photos Explained:
Use of graphic photos explained: iMediaEthics writer Sydney Smith tells why the Associated Press, The New York Times and USA Today published photos of a dead man and his daughter drowned in the Rio Grande.
Deemed a moment in time showing the danger and desperation of immigrants from Central America.
Photos Of Dead Bodies
Photos of dead bodies: Images of the bodies of a man and his daughter drowned in the Rio Grande are examples of journalists showing a truth the public would prefer not to see, writes Kelly McBride.
“Don’t exploit horrific photos without a journalistic purpose,” she advises. “But don’t hide them or place too many barriers in front of them, lest you duck your most important job.”
Ethics Of Showing Horrifying Images
Ethics of showing horrifying images: Photos of the bodies of a drowned man and his daughter on the bank of the Rio Grande raise questions about how far media should go in using such images.
They stir debates over news value, focusing public attention on tragedy and dilemmas and psychological impacts. The Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics says show good taste and avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
High Court Favors Secrecy
High court favors secrecy: In a blow to freedom of information, the U.S. Supreme court expanded the federal definition of what can be deemed confidential, the Argus Leader reports.
“At issue was whether confidentiality, as used in a section of the Freedom of Information Act, means anything intended to be kept secret or only information likely to cause harm if publicized,” writes the Argus Leader, which began the case with an FOI request in 2011.
Forcing Change Through Fact-Checking
Forcing change through fact-checking: Simply reporting fact-checks is not enough, writes Laura Hazard Owen.
The “second-generation” of fact-checking includes not just publishing but also pressure and working for system change.
Making Sensible Decisions From Weather Reports
Making sensible decisions from weather reports: “When it comes to weather, there is no universal understanding of cautionary language,” writes Justin Ray, “and no single standard for alerting TV viewers — a fact that should raise more concern than it does.”
Textbooks On The Newsroom Ethos
Textbooks on the newsroom ethos: Raymond McCaffrey describes journalism textbooks from 1913-1978 and ethics codes telling how journalists should act.
The textbooks “contributed to the crafting of an ethos that encouraged detachment and discouraged the displaying of emotions in what was depicted as a macho profession,” he writes.
A Global Look At Media
A global look at media: The Reuters institute For The Study of Journalism finds publishers are pushing hard to distinguish high-quality journalism from the mass of information that is now published on the internet.
Complaints persist of media bias and negativity, and of information overload in a report covering almost 40 countries and six continents.
Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists 