Ethics AdviceLine

The enduring weather person: Andrew McCormick observes that weather reporters entertain audiences in fair weather and counsel them in bad. “It isn’t completely surprising that they would be in demand as storms loom,” he writes. “But it is notable, in the age of Twitter and smart phones, that the broadcast […]

Resisting information disorder: Julie Posetti and Cherilyn Ireton write journalists can push back against the scourge of fake news. “Disinformation and misinformation go beyond challenging journalists’ reputations and safety,” they write. “They question their purpose and effectiveness, and they perpetuate the degradation of journalism to the detriment of civic discourse.” […]

YouTube a conspiracy ecosystem: Craig Timberg and Drew Harwell write about wild conspiracies that flood YouTube. “Among the most popular genres in the collection were related to mass shootings, and especially the one in Las Vegas in October that killed 58 people,” they write. “Typically these portrayed the attacks as […]

Jail for defying data terms of service: D. Victoria Baranetsky notes journalists face possible penalties when using data from public websites like Facebook and Twitter. No journalists have been prosecuted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, she writes, “but their sources have, and some journalists have been asked to […]

Futurecasting: Ebony Reed writes about ways news companies can grow revenue and expand market opportunities in the future. Futurecasting “is based on signals, trends and observing various industries to see how they can converge for various possible outcomes, offers us an opportunity (to) think beyond the current horizon,” Reed writes. […]

Fact-checking the NAFTA agreement: Daniel Funke writes about concerns over false and inaccurate claims about the North American Trade Agreement and American trade policy. President Trump threatened to end the agreement. “The goal: Bring more attention to policy issues that don’t get enough attention in a 24-hour news cycle dominated […]

Using digital media to debunk or verify news: Mathew Ingram tells how BBC’s Africa bureau linked Cameroon soldiers to the deaths of two women and two children. Ingram calls it “an inspiring use of digital journalism” leading to seven arrests.   Source: Using Digital Media To Debunk Or Verify […]

Staying sane in a news storm: Margaret Sullivan gives seven tips to keep your cool in a hot mess, including: “Take a break. The news never stops, so put down your phone, turn off your TV and do something else for a few hours. Cook a meal, take a walk, […]

The many names of marijuana: Caren Lissner writes that “as more journalists cover the (legalized marijuana) industry, worth billions of dollars, many have had to scrutinize the synonyms and slang they use — often at the urging of merchants.” Sellers say the word “marijuana” has a dark history, while “pot” […]

Media bullying: Alexandria Neason and Nausicaa Renner comment on media intimidation of Prof. Christine Blasey Ford. “Journalists spend much of our professional lives wading through justifications for our subjects’ behavior and asking when has it crossed an ethical line,” they write. “This hearing shows the urgent need for us to […]