Journalism Ethics Case Studies

Celebrity Death in the Media

How should you cover a deceased celebrity who was both loved and hated?
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Blurring the Line Between Reporting the Truth and Minimizing Harm

Should journalists show the faces of protesters in news coverage?
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Picturing Justice for Kalief Browder

What ethical concerns arise when Jay-Z attempts to document injustices in the American justice system?
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Objectivity in Journalism

Does the ideal of objectivity in journalism raise ethical issues?
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Pandemic Prime Time for the Cuomo Brothers

What ethical concerns arise with the brotherly interactions between Governor Cuomo and journalist Cuomo?
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Can Artificial Intelligence Reprogram the Newsroom?

As artificial intelligence plays an increasing role in newsrooms, what ethical issues arise?
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Images of Death in the Media

What ethical challenges arise when the media uses images of the dead?
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How Vigilant Should Cable News Be About Political Messages?

What are the ethical implications of CNN refusing to air Trump's misleading advertisements?
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Beer Cans and Cancel Culture

What are the ethical challenges when journalism and cancel culture meet?
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The Ethics of Anonymous Criticism in Political Journalism

What are the ethical concerns when journalists publish or cover anonymous critics of President Trump?
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More cases coming soon!

Case studies produced by the Media Ethics Initiative remain the intellectual property of the Media Ethics Initiative and the University of Texas at Austin. They can be used in unmodified PDF form without permission for classroom use. For use in publications such as textbooks and other works, please contact the Media Ethics Initiative.