Ethics and Democracy Resources
Browse our collection of resources applicable to ethics democracy concerns.
Ethics and Democracy
Ethics, journalism and the democratic process in an increasingly polarized world.
September 29, 2026
12:30 PM EST
September 29, 2026 | 12:30 PM EST
When Sources Don’t Tell The Truth: How Journalists Can Ethically Cover Politics in an Age of Mistrust
Register here Join us for a timely 45-minute webinar featuring New York Times Chief White House Correspondent Peter Baker exploring how journalists can report ethically and effectively on false statements by politicians or other sources. Baker will be interviewed live by Stephen J. Adler, the director of NYU’s Ethics and Journalism Initiative and former Reuters […]
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.
Ethics and Democracy | Ethics and Diversity
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?
Guest Column: Journalists’ Obligation to Report — and Re-Report — the Facts About the Election
The truth is that voting in this country is relatively safe and secure. The results are reliable. Journalists need to defend the mechanics of democracy by also reporting the facts about the actual soundness of the overall system, not the corrosive conspiracy theories emanating from candidates and their social feeds.
