Anonymous sources: Most reporters know that stories are only as good as the reliability of identified sources who are quoted. From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives.
Category Archives: Accuracy
Media Ethics Issues of 2019
Media ethics issues of 2019: Sydney Smith summarizes noteworthy media ethics issues.
Misinformation, verification, racism, bad taste and damaging tweets from the past are among them.
Journalists Criticizing Journalists
Ethics Codes Overhaul
Ethics codes overhaul: Bill Grueskin writes that the digital age needs a new code of ethics.
2020 “ought to be the year that our ethics codes get an overhaul, as journalists face relentless business pressures, relinquish even more control over how our content is distributed and framed and deal with the consequences of anonymity, doxing and transparency. It’s more urgent than ever, as our country becomes increasingly polarized and as trust in the news media remains tepid.”
Revenge Porn And Privacy
Revenge porn and privacy: Deanna Paul writes the U.S. Supreme Court might decide on the difference between free speech and invasion of privacy in an Illinois revenge porn case.
Noteworthy 2019 Findings
Noteworthy 2019 findings: Hispanics are projected to be the largest racial or ethnic minority in the 2020 electorate, says the Pew Research Center, reporting 19 striking findings of 2019.
Columnist Scolded
Columnist scolded: The Colorado Springs Independent editorial board says a local columnist violated journalism ethics by lecturing the city council.
Shaky Anonymous Sources
Shaky anonymous sources: Journalists in the cyber age should shun discredited past practices like anonymous sources and off-the-record backgrounders, which damage public trust. From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives.
Algorithm Values
Algorithm values: There’s a chance to reclaim news distribution from technology companies, and ensure that commercial and public interest values are better balanced, writes Nicholas Diakopoulos.
“Journalistic news feeds are an opportunity for news organizations to take back control over distribution by writing algorithms with more traditionally recognizable editorial, ethical and public interest values.”
Hate Crimes Collaboration
Hate crimes collaboration: ProPublica’s three-year project involving hundreds of newsrooms published over 230 stories, writes Rachel Glickhouse.
“Our approach included asking people to tell us their stories of experiences or witnessing hate crimes and bias incidents.”
Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists 