Ethics AdviceLine

Unethical bosses: An editor pressures a web editor to gratuitously mention an advertiser in a story. From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Freedom to offend: Toronto Star public editor Kathy English defends the freedom of columnists to express views that are outrageous and even offensive. “I must defend their freedom to offend,” she explains to readers.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

What teens want: “Ultimately, young people want the same thing from news organizations that adults do: the truth,” writes Lauren Harris. Attempts to emulate teens make them wince.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Direct service journalism: Chicago-based City Bureau plans move to Denver to fill need for reporting on government. The three-year-old program trains and pays people to monitor public officials in Chicago and Detroit.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Even pirates had codes of ethics: A look at various codes of ethics, including one adopted by pirates in 1722. Today’s media codes fail to show a love for words. From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

New model for local news: Ken Doctor aims to launch Lookout next year. “Overall, we believe the successful local news outlets of the 2020s will be the ones that authentically embed themselves into the life of the communities they serve,” he writes.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for […]

The Guardian digital profitable: “This is all pretty remarkable,” writes Laura Hazard Owen. It makes the majority of its revenue from reader donations and digital sources. The news remains free. Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Offensive Halloween photo: Recalling a controversial 2014 photo of an effigy scene in a homeowner’s yard near Clarksville, Tenn. A website news director uses the photo, then calls the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists when the homeowner objects to the photo. Keep the photo up or take it down? From the […]

Tweets backfire: The Des Moines Register fires a reporter for offensive tweets while he was working on a story about offensive tweets. His own tweets from nine years ago came to light, writes Sydney Smith.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Ethics in comedy: For professional comedians, stealing jokes is no laughing matter. Jokes come in two parts, a setup and a punch line. Does ownership come with one, or both? From the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists archives. Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.