Last week, BuzzFeed released a statement publicizing the ethical standards they expect for their reporting and storytelling as a new media outlet. Characterizing the announcement as a “first attempt” at outlining their objectives of “merging the best of …
2014: The Year of Personalized Journalism Ethics
2014 brought us the year of My Journalism Ethics. It was the year that “personalizing” journalism ethics went mainstream. Big time. Major journalism associations, from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) to the Online News …
A Magical Putter and the Year in Media Ethics
I knew 2014 would be a notable year in media ethics at about the two-week mark. I remember it vividly. In mid-January, the sports website Grantland ran a stunning piece called “Dr. V’s Magical Putter” — …
Retracted Rolling Stone sexual assault story fallout is about more than just poor fact checking
By Dave Wilcox The journalistic failures of Rolling Stone, both ethically and practically, in their reporting of a horrific sexual assault on the campus of the University of Virginia offers a stark example of how wrong things …
More reporting needed on subject of local journalists dying in Iraq and Syria
The rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been a major focus of US news outlets’ foreign correspondence over the past several months. Starting with the involvement of ISIL’s forays …
Comedian Daniel Tosh calls out ESPN for plagiarism… with a bit of his own
ESPN recently faced scrutiny for what appears to be a direct lift of a segment from a comedian’s show on Comedy Central. ESPN recently began airing a new segment, titled “Awesome Video Segment,” and the very first …
ESPNU reporter slammed over “joke” tweet about FSU shooting
An ESPNU reporter sent out a tweet late last night that has many people around the internet shocked and upset. According to the Washington Post, Marisa Martin, a University of Alabama student who works with ESPNU’s …
Redskins Wide Receiver Criticizes Sports Media’s Intentions
A top NFL wide receiver recently criticized the national sports media, questioning what the goals of the media really are. Pierre Garcon, a wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, appeared recently on the SirisXM NFL Radio …
Local news stations contribute to Nevada Attorney General race; posing questions
While allowable by Nevada state law, the $40,000 donation made by Intermountain West Communications and its local affiliates to a Nevada Attorney General candidate raised some ethical eyebrows as it was revealed. Local NBC affiliates in …
Thought Catalog alleges bias in Washington Post piece
The publisher and members of Thought Catalog, a popular site similar to Buzzfeed and Upworthy, are upset with Washington Post over the question of bias following an article published in the Post. According to jimromensko.com, …