Articles by admin

Defining conflict of interest: There’s no single definition, writes Nancy Matchett. It’s an “open concept.” “It is a reason why ethical professionals sensibly seek advice from time to time.” From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Hurricane hoaxes: “Hurricanes, just like floods or earthquakes, are commonly surrounded by hoaxes and might trigger the sharing of false information,” writes Cristina Tardaguila. Make sure you know where to find official information.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Seeking the under 35 reader: A Reuters Institute report finds young people prefer social media and news aggregators over traditional broadcast or print media. They use news to fulfill social and personal needs. They don’t seek news; it comes to them.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Ethics puzzler; you decide: Three California universities paid the Orange County Register $275.000 for a year’s worth of weekly sections featuring campus life. A smart way to raise revenue, or a serious breach of journalism ethics? From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives. https://ethicsadvicelineforjournalists.org/2013/09/18/smart-way-to-rai…or-ethics-breach/ Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog […]

Ethics quiz: What major journalism organization voted unanimously — twice — to adopt its code of ethics at its 1973 annual convention? Strange but true. You’re really smart if you can answer this.     Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Recognizing satire: “People have long mistaken satire for real news,” write R. Kelly Garrett, Robert Bond and Shannon Poulsen. Satirical newspapers found to be quoted as factual. Democrats and republicans fooled. Americans think made-up news is a significant problem.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

One story, 15 corrections: The Washington Post is embarrassed by widespread errors in a freelance article about two African-American families, writes Sydney Smith. Errors included misspellings, family details, omissions of key details and statements, descriptions of incidents, context and allegations.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Reporting on special needs people: A complaint about a headline referring to a “wheelchair-bound man” caused a Canadian newspaper to caution its staff when reporting on people with disabilities, reported iMediaEthics. The term is “antiquated and ableist” ruled Canada’s National News Media Council. Say “person who uses a wheelchair.”   […]

News bums people out: “Basically, we are bumming — and burning — people out,” writes Christine Schmidt about a worldwide Reuters Digital News report. People avoid it. Solutions journalism points the way to solving depressing problems, like details putting solutions into action. Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Sharing content without thinking: “A complex web of societal shifts is making people more susceptible to misinformation and conspiracy,” writes Claire Wardle. “Most of this content is designed not to persuade people in any particular direction but to cause confusion, to overwhelm and to undermine trust in democratic institutions from […]