Ethics and Democracy

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

The Ethics of Covering the Trump Administration: How News Outlets Handle Insults Embedded in the Administration’s Official Responses

We spoke with standards editors at Reuters, NPR, and more and found a sharp divergence among them on the question of whether to publish extraneous insults from Trump spokespeople.

Covering Migrants In An Age Of Mass Deportations

The stakes are high for reporters on the migrant beat. To provide guidance and insight, we asked a veteran immigration reporter about building trust, fielding requests for help, navigating Trump administration changes to enforcement, reader fatigue, and more. 

Do We Really Know How Trump Decided to Bomb Iran?

Reporters and readers should be skeptical of unnamed “insiders.”

Student Journalists: Know Your Rights, Ethical Decisions Under Pressure

For student journalists, covering campus news for decades is increasingly likely to raise complicated ethical and legal questions—from how to stay safe when faced with law enforcement and possible disciplinary action, to legal rights student journalists have when covering campus protests.

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.

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.

Fostering a Culture of Newsroom Independence

How to fight anticipatory compliance.

Covering Immigration Ethically Under Trump

Top immigration journalists from The New Yorker, ProPublica, Documented, and The CITY discuss how a second Trump presidency will inform their reporting.

Getting Past Newsroom Myopia

The results of the 2024 election left many national media commentators stunned. This surprise begs the question: what can coastal big-city news organizations do to more accurately reflect and understand the concerns of the American public?

Map of United States with sunglasses with the words "New York" and "Washington" in the lenses.