Journalism Ethics Case Studies

Reporting on the Night Stalker

Reporting on the Night Stalker

How far should journalists go in covering a deadly serial killer?
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Accurate and Effective Reporting in a Pandemic

Accurate and Effective Reporting in a Pandemic

What does objective reporting mean in covering the Black Lives Matter protests?
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The Ethics of News Paywalls

The Ethics of News Paywalls

What does objective reporting mean in covering the Black Lives Matter protests?
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Newsroom Objectivity in the Age of Black Lives Matter

Newsroom Objectivity in the Age of Black Lives Matter

What does objective reporting mean in covering the Black Lives Matter protests?
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The Ethics of Op-Eds

The Ethics of Op-Eds

Should newspapers run controversial or offensive op-ed pieces?
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The News We Desire

The News We Desire

Are partisan news outlets good for our democracy?
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Greed or Good Intentions in Investigative Journalism?

Greed or Good Intentions in Investigative Journalism?

Did Bob Woodward err in delaying the release of his investigative research?
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Celebrity Death in the Media

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

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

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

Objectivity in Journalism

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

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?

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

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?

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

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

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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And Nothing But the Truth

And Nothing But the Truth

How can reporters balance accuracy and good effects in their reporting on war-torn African communities?
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Does the Photo Fit the News?

Does the Photo Fit the News?

What happens when a powerful image becomes the face of the immigration debate?
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How to Use Case Studies in Your Class

How to Use Case Studies in Your Class

How to use case studies to integrate ethics content and skills in your classes.
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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.