Ethics AdviceLine

Staying impartial: New York Times staffers comment on political impartiality, write Caryn A. Wilson and Lara Takenaga, explaining some journalistic practices. Working against their own preconceptions.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Being ethical on social media: Ethicist David Craig says being ethical on social media involves asking hard questions and doing it in the open. From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Freelancers’ ethical dilemmas: Freelancers make up an increasing portion of the media workforce, writes Laura Neuman. Unlike staff journalists, she writes, they don’t work in a newsroom with editors, colleagues and legal staff close by.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

All coronavirus‘s names: Journalists have the responsibility to put things in context, writes Merrill Perlman. Acknowledge its place in the pantheon of disease, she writes. “Reporting as if it were the end of the world is an epidemic of a different kind.”   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for […]

  By Casey Bukro Journalism goes through phases, like a teenager sporting what is hot and ditching what is not. Consider the “nut graph” in news writing, typographical changes to help readers “navigate” through newspapers and graphics that capture attention and inform. Now it’s objectivity’s turn. The New Republic magazine […]

Perils of freelancing: Freelancers are sharing rates and organizing as the pools of available money dwindles, writes Elizabeth King. “Even in non-unionized workplaces, employees are legally protected if they want to discuss their pay with colleagues,” she writes, but it is considered risky or taboo.   Visit the Ethics […]

Fairness first: Margaret Sullivan calls for a new approach to covering the Trump administration. “First, we need to abandon neutrality-at-all-costs journalism, to replace it with something more suited to the moment,” she writes.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Ex-journalist backs pol: Sam Donaldson ruffled some journalists by backing Mike Bloomberg, writes Paul Farhi. Though Donaldson is retired, is that unethical?   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Newspaper with drinks: The Big Bend Sentinel in Texas opens a cafe and cocktail bar in its office building for revenue, writes Sasha von Oldershausen. A way to get new leads and find stories, says the managing editor. Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Pols pitching paper: The New Orleans Advocate used local politicians in television ads for the paper. A bad idea says our ethicist. From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.