Blog

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 […]

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 […]

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.” […]

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 […]

Messy case of Twitter account ownership: Jonathan Peters writes about a sports reporter sued by a former employer for failing to hand over his Twitter login information when he changed jobs. “It’s unclear how the case will turn out,” writes Peters. “The problem is twofold: Few cases have addressed social-media […]

Covering hurricanes: Kristen Hare and David Beard list ways to prepare for covering dangerous weather. Such as: Plug in and charge everything you have and keep them charged. Bring pencils. Carry a lot of cash. Bring rubber boots. Wear sunscreen. Rent a car.   Source: Covering Hurricanes“>Ethics AdviceLine for […]

Media trust down, can be restored for some: Gallup and the Knight Foundation release new findings. “These results indicate that attempts to restore trust in the media among most Americans may be fruitful, particularly if those efforts are aimed at improving accuracy, enhancing transparency and reducing bias,” they report. About […]

Investigating a journalist: The Houston Chronicle’s editor says “we have launched an investigation into the work of one of our own reporters” who is accused of quoting people who don’t exist. “We owe our readers the truth and to tell you if, in fact, there were inaccuracies in anything we […]

Celebrity death hoaxes: Daniel Funke and Alexios Mantzarlis report that celebrity deaths are a popular subgenre of misinformation and offer 15 fact-checking links. “At a time when we are at pains to distinguish ‘real news’ from ‘fake news,’ falling for these shallow fabrications undermines the argument,” they write.   […]

An accuracy checklist: Mark Memmott lists 13 things to double-check in a story, followed at National Public Radio. It is “a reminder of things we all know we should do,” he writes, like checking names, dates, quotes and locations. “When an NPR journalist says something is ready for editing, that […]