Finding news deserts by ZIP code: Michelle Ferrier writes about the Media Deserts Project.
It’s a “research effort that is trying to map the ways in which many of America’s rural communities are indeed impoverished by the lack of fresh, daily local news and information,” she writes, and find media audiences.
Newsletter secret saucer: Melina Delkic writes that the New York Times produces 55 newsletters that cover the day’s biggest news, commentary on social issues, cooking and more.
“Newsletters can be a way to streamline news coverage and separate what’s consequential from what’s trending,” she writes.
Students want diversity and inclusion over free speech.
Survey of college students finds support for free expression, but a willingness to restrict it in favor of inclusion.
Students see downsides of social media free expression because people can block views of others who disagree with them.
Suicide coverage best practices: Kelly McBride reports that the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain prompt a look at best practices in reporting on suicide.
Suicide is not a natural or logical outcome of adversity, she writes. “Instead, include a message of hope: Recovery is possible. In fact, most people who think about suicide do recover.”
Papua New Guinea faces a month without Facebook, following the example of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and North Korea.
Benny Geteng reports that the PNG communications minister wants time to investigate abuses and the possibility of creating a national social network site.
Spanish digital era ethics manual: Paola Nalvarte writes that the International Center For Journalists published a guide on ethical principles.
“The document highlights credibility as a fundamental value of journalism in the twenty-first century.”
Hate groups manipulate media: Whitney Phillips warns that journalists covering hate groups unwittingly spread their hateful ideology and other false and misleading narratives “with news coverage itself harnessed to fuel hate, confusion and discord.”
Ombudsman is target of sex abuse probe: Alan Stamm reports that Jack Lessenberry, ombudsman at The Blade in Toledo, is under investigation for alleged misbehavior at a Memphis newspaper and at Wayne State University, where he taught.
Lessenberry has called sexual harassment “a national buzzword” and “the current crime the nation is fixated on.”
How the internet found its voice: Lyz Lenz analyzes the rise of internet writing.
“It comes as no surprise that finding and creating a cohesive understanding of internet writing is just as dubious, problematic and maddening as the internet itself,” she writes.
“The internet, with its irreverence and short attention span, is a perfect vehicle for crassly delightful send-up humor.”
Guarding against deepfakes: Nicholas Diakopoulos writes that a media synthesis algorithm generates convincing but fake video.
“Dire as the case may be, it could offer a great comeback opportunity for mainstream media,” writes Diakopoulos. Trained journalists can act as validators and assessors of mediated reality the public can trust.
Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists 