For centuries, the town of Vishakhapatnam in Southern India, or Vizag as it was known until recently, was a quaint little place on the Bay of Bengal, with a beautiful ocean view and an active …
The Limits of Libertarianism
Media law expert Robert Drechsel reviews the controversial decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a federal law that prohibited corporations from spending general treasury funds to advocate the election or defeat of …
God, Disasters, and the Media
The Haitian earthquake coverage raises many issues of media coverage – its quality, limitations, the graphic images, the attempt to report amid chaos. It also raises another issue: What is the place of God in …
PERSONAL ESSAY: Does the Press Still Care About Women’s Rights?
In a provocative essay, Sue Steinberg, an experienced network executive and producer who helped found MTV, questions whether the media today is still committed to advancing women’s rights and questioning stereotypes. She asks: Does the …
Memo to Media: Voters decide the end of the election story
As I write this, there’s about a week left in the federal election campaign and it looks like the biggest challenge facing news media outlets in the coming days will be remembering they can’t announce …
How to Avoid Ethical Snags in Nonprofit Journalism
The line between funder and journalist is tough to honour, writes Stephen J.A. Ward. But the right policies could make non-profit networks pioneers in media accountability.
The Rise of the Networks
Brant Houston is the Knight Chair in Investigative Reporting, University of Illinois As newspapers and other journalism institutions falter, networks of investigative and alternative newsrooms are rising up, sharing resources and finding ways to more …
Covering Tragedy: Do Journalists Exploit Suicide?
Suicides are often more than newsworthy, writes Stephen J.A. Ward, they challenge journalists to explore economic and social issues in their community. “Minimize harm” is the proper principle, not “do no harm.”
Guidelines for Guidelines: Social Media Policies Spark Debate
Since everyone is on Twitter, we have to let journalists tweet away, unrestrained, writes Stephen J.A. Ward. But as newsrooms start to create editorial policies for social media, we need sober, nuanced, ethical thinking that takes the long view, not emotional arguments from social media enthusiasts.
Covering Suicide: Do Journalists Exploit Tragedy?
Suicides are often more than newsworthy, writes Stephen J.A. Ward, they challenge journalists to explore economic and social issues in their community. “Minimize harm” is the proper principle, not “do no harm.” Reporters and their …