Ethics

May 09, 2012 - Posted by Belinda Alzner

The current changes in journalism have brought many new ethical challenges, but they’re also changing the idea of ethics itself, according to Stephen J. A. Ward.

Media and the hard truth about suicides

Sep 13, 2011 - Posted by Lauren McKeon

No one likes covering a suicide. The publicity may add pain at a time of grieving, and can, experts fear, push other suicidal people over the age. But for Stephen J. A. Ward, the question is how -- not whether -- painful facts should be reported.

Rethinking journalism ethics, objectivity in the age of social media

Aug 03, 2011 - Posted by Lauren McKeon

In today's rapidly changing media environment, many journalism schools are getting creative when it comes to teaching journalism -- and no subject is more tricky than ethics. J-Source contributing editor Stephen J.A. Ward asks: Whither objectivity? This article originally appeared on PBS MediaShift.

In your face: The ethics of opinion journalism

Feb 15, 2011 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Journalists who add their own fierce opinions to political discourse have every right to do so, writes Stephen J.A. Ward, but it's "deliberative" commentators who serve a democracy best.

"Let's kill Julian Assange!" WikiLeaks and the power of patriotism

Dec 14, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Last week, two prominent US columnists called for the death of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. This knee-jerk patriotism -- that loving your country means not embarrassing your government -- undermines the power of a free press, Stephen J.A. Ward writes. But for some journalists, "national security" trumps independent reporting.

Terry Jones syndrome: Guidelines for responsible news selection

Sep 21, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

The question “Should the media cover a little-known pastor’s Koran-burning plan?” has been widely debated. Stephen J.A. Ward asks a larger question: "How is news selected?" He offers guidelines to help editors respond responsibly to a Terry Jones and a soon-to-follow host of copycats.

How to reveal secrets

Aug 24, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Whistleblowing can afflict the comfortable, but can also do more harm than good, Stephen Ward writes. When will sites like WikiLeaks produce a code of ethics?

Emotion in reporting: use and abuse

Aug 23, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

Reporters are not automatons, but emotion in journalism can be manipulated, writes Stephen J.A. Ward. When is expression of emotions self-promotion or self-congratulation and when is it true compassion?

Carrying a torch for ethics

Aug 23, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

With any other controversial story involving $2 billion in taxpayers' money, journalists would fall over themselves to cultivate a critical approach, writes Stephen J.A. Ward. Why is it different with the Olympics?

Dancing with the sheiks: Freedom in a global age

Apr 13, 2010 - Posted by Dana Lacey

In the new “hybrid” globalized societies, such as Dubai, media freedom takes on hybrid forms. Stephen J.A. Ward speaks with James Piecowye, host of the emirate's strictly monitored English-language radio talk show, about taboo topics and pushing the boundaries of a restricted press...