Blog

Tips for resisting fake news: “The way our memory works means it might be impossible to resist fake news completely,” writes Julian Matthews. Think like a scientist: Ask what type of content it is, where it is published and who benefits.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Key demographic trends: Hispanics are expected to be the largest racial or ethnic minority in the next election, write Anthony Cilluffo and D’Vera Cohn, according to the Pew Research Center. This was one of six demographic trends that included findings on American adult generations, unmarried parents, immigration and household income. […]

Journalists engaged in communities preferred: The Pew Research Center finds urban and rural residents want news from journalists personally engaged in their communities, writes Elizabeth Grieco. Urban resident say journalists are more likely to cover their areas, and see certain local news topics as important for daily life. They also […]

NYT Privacy Project: The Times launches an investigation into the erosion of digital privacy, including its own practices. “Though we know we must participate in this messy and rapidly changing ecosystem — one with plenty of bad actors — we are also working to ensure our own data practices live […]

Ethics of stock imagery: Using old images with new stories is not ethical journalism, Mark E. Johnson tells Jack Kelly. It’s like using generic quotes in a story. Visuals attached to stories increase engagement, writes Kelly. But “photojournalists and visual journalists are often the first members of a newsroom to […]

Newmark mixes journalism and Judaism: A “do unto others” attitude fuels the ambitions of Craig Newmark, billionaire founder of Craigslist and a self-described nerd. Newmark says giving money to journalism organizations and schools is critical because journalists have come under increasing attack, writes Rob Gloster. Newmark also is blamed for […]

Crosstown project turns citizens into squeaky wheels: “Crosstown joins a nationwide movement by government, universities and other institutions to make big data more useful to citizens and the news media,” writes Mark Jacob, focusing on core quality-of-life issues.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Trusting news: Balance and honesty lead in what news consumers seek in trusting journalism, writes Joy Mayer. Many say balance means journalism should reflect a diversity of opinions, and journalists keeping their opinions out of their work.   Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

April fooling: The Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists once got a call from a reporter asking if it would be ethical to write an April Fools’ Day story in the tradition of the late hoaxer George Plimpton. See the advice here. Visit the Ethics AdviceLine blog for more.

Peoria Journal Star apologizes for letter: Editor Dennis Anderson said publishing a letter comparing the Illinois governor to Adolph Hitler “crossed a line.” Linking abortion and the Holocaust was not right, Anderson wrote. “Reckless references to abominable history are part and parcel to the astonishing decline of public discourse in […]