Archive
4 May

New journalism ethics site launched

The University of Ottawa journalism ethics research chair, Marc-François Bernier, has launched a professional website (in French). The site will link to scientific publications, research results as well as other publications of […]

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27 Apr

The “torturous” struggle to state a fact

ByStephen J. A. Ward Critics have long accused objective reporters of hiding behind facts to avoid taking a stand on crucial issues.   How little these people know about the […]

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20 Apr

News blackouts quite common

ByMelissa Wilson “News organizations aren’t in the business of keeping secrets,” insists David Aeikens, president of the Society of Professional Journalists and full-time reporter for Minnesota’s St. Cloud Times, on […]

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8 Apr

Journalism ethics site launched

Journalism Ethics for the Global Citizen, a website project headed by Stephen J.A. Ward has launched. Ward, former director of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of British […]

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2 Mar

Getting rid of the mumbo jumbo: ethics for mixed media

ByStephen J.A. Ward The language of journalism ethics today is like bad Irish stew – a mishmash of different and conflicting ideas, rules, and practices. Ethical mumbo-jumbo. Consider two recent […]

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9 Feb

Getting things right in real time reporting: Hoyt

Using a nasty political battle that played out in the news media as an example, New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt issues a sharp reminder: “a newspaper that prides […]

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26 Jan

Tough times call for more ethics, not less

ByStephen Ward Doing ethics in journalism has never been easy. Across the history of modern journalism, journalists have struggled against economic and political powers to be independent and responsible public […]

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9 Dec

The incredible shrinking journalist

ByStephen J.A. Ward As we move towards a new year, I’ve been reflecting on the trajectory of journalism and how we teach it.   In such moments, it is natural […]

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2 Dec

In covering kidnappings, news calls are all about the details

ByPaul Knox If conversations about the Mellissa Fung case are any guide, Canadian journalists are eager for guidance about how to handle kidnapping stories. Stephen Ward, writing on J-Source, says […]

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3 Nov

Freedom not a “get out of jail free” card

By Stephen Ward Being an ethicist in journalism today can be a strange and frustrating experience. I don’t ask for sympathy. I have a good life, thank you. Rather, I […]

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