Blog

Audience engagement: Chip Scanlan writes about the power of talking to people in person, “a step that might once have seemed banal, but now seems almost radical.” “There’s no substitute, as any experienced journalist knows, for face-to-face encounters,” he writes. “Though phone or email interviews may sometimes be efficient or […]

Paying for hyperlocal journalism: Christine Schmidt describes attempts to connect people with the community and engaging with them. “The ultimate goal is, well, seeing if it can sustain the salary of a hyperlocal journalist,” she writes. Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Binging on advice: Slate has four advice columns for parenting, general questions, sex and pets, writes Laura Hazard Owen. “Once you start reading Slate’s advice columns, it’s hard to stop,” she writes. “Unlike in newspapers of old, where you had to wait for the next week’s column to come out, […]

Combatting disinformation: How do journalists report on disinformation “without pouring gasoline on the fire?” asks Mathew Ingram. Fact-checking efforts can have a boomerang effect and actually entrench a false belief in some cases, he writes.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Tech companies hide behind backgrounders: Silicon Valley tech companies control information using “on backgrounder” briefings, writes Brian Merchant. “This is a toxic arrangement,” he writes. “The tactic shields tech companies from accountability,” free of risk.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

The perils of identification: Obtaining permission is not the same as informed consent, writes Megan Frye. A New York Times story about gang violence in Honduras including real names and photos is criticized for failing to recognize dangers.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Keeping ticked-off subscribers: There are ways to keep angry newspaper subscribers, writes Laura Hazard Owen. Try renewal discounts, extending or upgrading existing subscriptions and reminding customers of the “full” subscription price.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Building an ethical culture at NPR: The NPR standards & practices editor tells Victoria Kwan about language usage, social media practices and urgent ethics issues. “The bottom line is still fact-checking and verification,” says editor Mark Memmott. “Your credibility as a journalist will depend upon how well yo do those […]

Sex crimes victims’ privacy: A Spanish woman kills herself when a sex video surfaces, causing a sensation in the Spanish press. Meaghan Beatley reports a plea for ethics guidelines to cover gender violence. Spain’s Data Protection Agency moves to remove online revenge porn within 24 hours.   Visit the […]

Happy newsrooms: Define your mission, then work with others with different mindsets and skills, writes Uli Koppen. Interdisciplinary teams involve a lot of trial and error. A great experience and “a hell of a headache,” he writes.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.