Ethics and Democracy

Was It Unethical Not to Cover Biden’s Apparent Decline?

Story selection isn’t covered prominently in most newsroom ethics codes, but what we do or don’t choose to publish is a matter of journalistic ethics as much as anything else. With the publication of Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, we are re-posting Director Stephen J. Adler’s 2024 article on the ethical implications of the media’s failure to cover Biden’s decline when it first became apparent. Beyond criticizing the press, Adler provides useful guidelines for journalists going forward.

Aug. 26, 2024

Everyday Ethics | The Collier Award

Transparency, Accountability, Vulnerable Sources: Guidance From The 2025 Collier Awardees

Reporting on Amazon, hostile state governments, and universities; working with survivors of trauma; and explaining their decision-making to audiences and more at the first annual Collier Awards Symposium for Ethics in Journalism held April 11, 2025.

Apr. 23, 2025

Ethics and Technology

How Newsrooms Can Take Creators More Seriously

Including the need to listen to customers and adopt more flexible practices.

May. 09, 2025

Ethics and Diversity

How Journalists Can Do a Better Job of Covering DEI Rollbacks

Too many stories about the end of policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion lack critical context about why DEI programs came to be and what they’ve accomplished. 

Apr. 24, 2025

Ethics and Democracy

Our Mission Is To Publish – Not To Hide Our Work Away

Ethics and Journalism Initiative Director Stephen J. Adler on why “takedowns” pose serious risks to free speech and the historical record and are unlikely to offer actual protection.

May. 01, 2025

Resource of the Week: 

Best Practices: Anonymous Sources

As editors debate whether to scrub names and identifying features from past and future articles, we’re revisiting our guidance on when – and how – to work with anonymous sources.

DECODED

Breaking down the ethics codes and guidelines shaping newsrooms across the industry.

Ethics and Democracy

Amid Protests and Elections, How Can Journalists Ethically Participate in Politics and Civic Life?

At THE CITY, journalists can participate in civic life – but only if the activity doesn’t conflict with their beats.

Apr. 30, 2025

Ethics and Democracy

Our Mission Is To Publish – Not To Hide Our Work Away

Ethics and Journalism Initiative Director Stephen J. Adler on why “takedowns” pose serious risks to free speech and the historical record and are unlikely to offer actual protection.

May. 01, 2025

Resource of the Week: 

Best Practices: Anonymous Sources

As editors debate whether to scrub names and identifying features from past and future articles, we’re revisiting our guidance on when – and how – to work with anonymous sources.

Ethics and Democracy

Was It Unethical Not to Cover Biden’s Apparent Decline?

Story selection isn’t covered prominently in most newsroom ethics codes, but what we do or don’t choose to publish is a matter of journalistic ethics as much as anything else. With the publication of Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, we are re-posting Director Stephen J. Adler’s 2024 article on the ethical implications of the media’s failure to cover Biden’s decline when it first became apparent. Beyond criticizing the press, Adler provides useful guidelines for journalists going forward.

Aug. 26, 2024

Everyday Ethics | The Collier Award

Transparency, Accountability, Vulnerable Sources: Guidance From The 2025 Collier Awardees

Reporting on Amazon, hostile state governments, and universities; working with survivors of trauma; and explaining their decision-making to audiences and more at the first annual Collier Awards Symposium for Ethics in Journalism held April 11, 2025.

Apr. 23, 2025

Ethics and Technology

How Newsrooms Can Take Creators More Seriously

Including the need to listen to customers and adopt more flexible practices.

May. 09, 2025

Ethics and Diversity

How Journalists Can Do a Better Job of Covering DEI Rollbacks

Too many stories about the end of policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion lack critical context about why DEI programs came to be and what they’ve accomplished. 

Apr. 24, 2025

DECODED

Breaking down the ethics codes and guidelines shaping newsrooms across the industry.

Ethics and Democracy

Amid Protests and Elections, How Can Journalists Ethically Participate in Politics and Civic Life?

At THE CITY, journalists can participate in civic life – but only if the activity doesn’t conflict with their beats.

Apr. 30, 2025

THE ETHICS DIGEST

Pointing you toward the latest news stories and initiatives that place ethics at the forefront.

How We’re Using AI

May 12, 2025 | Mike Ananny and Matt Pearce | Columbia Journalism Review

"The rapid development of AI is already changing how journalists operate. Reporters, editors, executives, and others across the news industry share their advice on how to engage—and where to draw the line."

“News” in 2025 is in the eye of the beholder

May 15, 2025 | Kirsten Eddy | Nieman Lab

"People classify content as more or less “news-like,” and this varies across platforms and sources, as well as from one person to the next."

Examining the editor pipeline (or lack thereof)

May 5, 2025 | Bettina Chang | Stanford John S. Knight Fellowship

In a year-long study, Stanford John S. Knight Fellow Bettina Chang reveals a glaring gap in support and training for editors in newsrooms across the country.

Explain where story ideas come from

May 13, 2025 | Joy Mayer | Trusting News

Story selection is a fundamental, yet under-discussed, aspect of journalism ethics. Trusting News's Joy Mayer on how explaining how we decide what is "newsworthy" could increase reader trust.

Browse the Digest Archive

RESOURCES ARCHIVE

Looking for more information on AI usage for your pitches and essays? Want to know more about how the biggest publications treat ethics in their newsrooms? We compile all of these sources (and more) in our resources library.

Browse Resources

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AREAS OF FOCUS

Everyday Ethics

Journalistic ethical standards that form the profession’s foundation.

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Ethics and Technology

Ethical implications and challenges that arise from evolving technology.

Read More

Ethics and Diversity

Ethical reporting on diverse communities and building ethical structures within newsrooms.

Read More

Ethics and Democracy

Ethics, journalism and the democratic process in an increasingly polarized world.

Read More

THE LATEST

The latest in ethics news and original commentary.

Ethics and Technology

How Newsrooms Can Take Creators More Seriously

Including the need to listen to customers and adopt more flexible practices.

May. 09, 2025

Ethics and Democracy

Our Mission Is To Publish – Not To Hide Our Work Away

Ethics and Journalism Initiative Director Stephen J. Adler on why “takedowns” pose serious risks to free speech and the historical record and are unlikely to offer actual protection.

May. 01, 2025

Ethics and Democracy

Amid Protests and Elections, How Can Journalists Ethically Participate in Politics and Civic Life?

At THE CITY, journalists can participate in civic life – but only if the activity doesn’t conflict with their beats.

Apr. 30, 2025

Ethics and Diversity

How Journalists Can Do a Better Job of Covering DEI Rollbacks

Too many stories about the end of policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion lack critical context about why DEI programs came to be and what they’ve accomplished. 

Apr. 24, 2025

Everyday Ethics | The Collier Award

Transparency, Accountability, Vulnerable Sources: Guidance From The 2025 Collier Awardees

Reporting on Amazon, hostile state governments, and universities; working with survivors of trauma; and explaining their decision-making to audiences and more at the first annual Collier Awards Symposium for Ethics in Journalism held April 11, 2025.

Apr. 23, 2025

The Collier Award

Announcing the Inaugural Awardees of the Collier Awards for Ethics in Journalism

The Washington Post, Mississippi Today, and University of Florida senior Garrett Shanley took home the top prizes at the Collier Awards for Ethics in Journalism held at the Paley Center for Media, April 10, 2025. The Baltimore Banner, Documented, The New Yorker, and NBC News were among the other awardees.

Apr. 11, 2025

Decoded | Ethics and Diversity

Why The Colorado Sun Remains Committed to Diversity

Even as U.S. businesses, federal agencies and major universities were rolling back initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, plenty of news organizations have continued to promote diversity, both in terms of newsroom staff and coverage of diverse voices and communities.

Mar. 20, 2025

Ethics and Diversity

Foreign Correspondents Dig Into The Ethics of Overseas Reporting

An extraordinary group of foreign correspondents gathered at New York University to discuss working with local journalists, protecting vulnerable sources, and maintaining ethical bearings in difficult situations.

Mar. 14, 2025

The Collier Award

NYU Ethics and Journalism Initiative Announces Finalists for the Inaugural Peter F. Collier Award for Ethics in Journalism

Winners to be named in student, local, and international categories, with Dean Baquet serving as keynote speaker, at April 10 Paley Center event

Feb. 25, 2025

Ethics and Democracy

Fostering a Culture of Newsroom Independence

How to fight anticipatory compliance.

Feb. 20, 2025

More News