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

[CASE STUDY]: Should journalists show the faces of protesters in news coverage?
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Objectivity in Journalism

[CASE STUDY]: 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?

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

[CASE STUDY]: 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?

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

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

[CASE STUDY]: What are the ethical concerns when journalists publish or cover anonymous critics of President Trump?
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And Nothing But the Truth

[CASE STUDY]: How can reporters balance accuracy and good effects in their reporting on war-torn African communities?
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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.