UW Center for Journalism Ethics

SOURCE REQUEST: I'm looking to talk to independent journalists on Substack who are based outside of the United States! This is for a @niemanlab.org story.

Send me your favorites and recs, and RT for reach! 🙏🏼

Reporting on Flaws in Science in an Era of Mistrust - The Open Notebook Science journalism that reports on flaws in the scientific process operates in a fraught environment, with attacks on science and scientists worldwide and increasing concern about public mistrust in s...

Covering issues of scientific integrity, such as fraud, fabricated data, or problematic publishing practices? Maintaining good journalism practices is one way to avoid fueling mistrust as you cover flaws in science. 🧪

I’m really looking forward to this, and especially to talking about some of our reporting on immigrant dairy workers which began just a few miles from Madison… please come if you can make it!

Online and in person on Tuesday, March 3, the amazing @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social will be a part of a public conversation on ethics and immigration reporting. Free and open to the public. More info: ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2026/01/28/p...

Join us and the Chicanx/e & Latinx/e Studies program in welcoming @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social, @propublica.org immigration reporter, to this free and public event at UW-Madison: "Reporting on Immigration in Times of Crisis: Wisconsin & Beyond." Register here: forms.gle/Zv3smRYA7CEf...

Join us and the Chicanx/e & Latinx/e Studies program in welcoming @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social, @propublica.org immigration reporter, to this free and public event at UW-Madison: "Reporting on Immigration in Times of Crisis: Wisconsin & Beyond." Register here: forms.gle/Zv3smRYA7CEf...

Ethics lessons from a rock historian The rock and roll history podcast that's an ongoing course in journalism ethics...

Author and journalism professor Samuel G. Freedman writes about getting journalism ethics lessons from an unexpected source, the podcast "A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs."

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2026/01/15/e...

Still time to enter. This is such a meaningful award.

Reporting on injustices in an era of misinformation: A Q&A with Deborah Douglas By Margaret Shreiner In an increasingly fragmented media system, journalists are often called on to combat the spread of misinformation and harmful narratives about underserved communities. Deborah Do...

Deborah Douglas (debofficially.bsky.social) of @medillschool.bsky.social on the reporting we need now:

"It’s about breaking that fourth wall and getting out of the screen, out of the newsrooms, into the community to create news as an experience."

Read the Q&A: ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2026/01/08/r...

As AI changes the media landscape, how can local news keep pace? By Margaret Shreiner In July 2025, an article in the Wisconsin State Journal containing incorrect information and several factual errors about a development plan for downtown Madison, was published on...

Fellow Margaret Shreiner examines how local newsrooms, operating with limited resources and guidelines, can implement AI tools ethically and effectively. With insights from @tomasdodds.bsky.social, Judith Davidoff and Edward C. Malthouse.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2026/01/05/a...

As AI changes the media landscape, how can local news keep pace? By Margaret Shreiner In July 2025, an article in the Wisconsin State Journal containing incorrect information and several factual errors about a development plan for downtown Madison, was published on...

Fellow Margaret Shreiner examines how local newsrooms, operating with limited resources and guidelines, can implement AI tools ethically and effectively. With insights from @tomasdodds.bsky.social, Judith Davidoff and Edward C. Malthouse.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2026/01/05/a...

Headshot of Anthony Shadid alongside this text: $10,000 prize, nominations due Jan. 15, 2026

We're open for nominations for the 2026 Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics for *ten* more days.

Nominate your work by Monday, January 15, for a chance to win $10,000 and be honored at our annual award ceremony in Washington, DC. More info: ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/shadid-award...

In memoriam: Carol Toussaint ‘51, board member and friend Carol Toussaint, a founding board member for the UW Center for Journalism Ethics and an unparalleled force for good, died in November 2025. We are grateful to have been one of many organizations …

Carol Toussaint, a founding board member for the UW Center for Journalism Ethics and an unparalleled force for good, died in November 2025. We are grateful for her many years of support.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2025/12/19/i...

We're one month out from the Shadid Award deadline (Jan. 15, 2026). Send us your nominations. Our amazing judges read every submission with care. And: This award is special.

This award recognizes extraordinary journalism done in the face of ethical challenges. We know how often such challenges arise while doing important work. Enter yours!

We're one month out from the Shadid Award deadline (Jan. 15, 2026). Send us your nominations. Our amazing judges read every submission with care. And: This award is special.

Great talking w @uwethics.bsky.social about the role hedge funds and private equity played in the destruction of the local newspaper market. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Ethical labor, broken institutions: Journalism amid financialization A Q&A with Margot Susca By Abby Youran Qin There’s the familiar story about the decline of local news: the internet arrived, audiences left and newspapers slowly faded. But Margot Susca’s book reveals...

What happens when journalists try to serve democracy inside institutions working against them? In this Q&A by @abbyqin.bsky.social, @margotsusca.bsky.social talks about the "financialization" of news and how journalists can navigate corporate control.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2025/12/10/e...

Shadid Award Nomination The Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks nominations for the Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics. Now in its 17th year, the Shadid Award recognizes ethical ...

Journalists, editors, ethics enthusiasts! We're open for your nominations for the 2026 Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics. Deadline is January 15, 2026. All the info here⬇️:

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/shadid-award...

Shadid Award Nomination The Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks nominations for the Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics. Now in its 17th year, the Shadid Award recognizes ethical ...

Journalists, editors, ethics enthusiasts! We're open for your nominations for the 2026 Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics. Deadline is January 15, 2026. All the info here⬇️:

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/shadid-award...

Reporting on addiction? Maia Szalavitz has some advice. By Ella Hanley Don’t rely on law enforcement as a primary source. That’s the first piece of advice Maia Szalavitz has for journalists reporting on drug addiction. “It shouldn’t be a crime issue in the...

Reporting on addiction?

Fellow Ella Hanley interviewed Maia Szalavitz, award-winning journalist and author of “Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction," on what journalists need to know about ethical and accurate addiction coverage.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2025/12/04/r...

Reporting on addiction? Maia Szalavitz has some advice. By Ella Hanley Don’t rely on law enforcement as a primary source. That’s the first piece of advice Maia Szalavitz has for journalists reporting on drug addiction. “It shouldn’t be a crime issue in the...

Reporting on addiction?

Fellow Ella Hanley interviewed Maia Szalavitz, award-winning journalist and author of “Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction," on what journalists need to know about ethical and accurate addiction coverage.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2025/12/04/r...

It’s political, not medical: Rethinking coverage of political leaders’ health By Abby Youran Qin When John Fetterman returned to the Pennsylvania Senate race after his stroke in 2022, his first televised debate became a national media moment. On stage, he addressed his recovery...

How should the press cover the health of political leaders? The stakes are high — political office carries real power — but so are the risks of reinforcing ageism or ableism.

Fellow @abbyqin.bsky.social reframes the issue of how to cover politicians' health.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2025/12/02/i...

It’s political, not medical: Rethinking coverage of political leaders’ health By Abby Youran Qin When John Fetterman returned to the Pennsylvania Senate race after his stroke in 2022, his first televised debate became a national media moment. On stage, he addressed his recovery...

“Coverage that treats mobility devices, speech patterns or age as symbols of decline reinforces stigma, whereas coverage that focuses on how decisions are made and how institutions adapt provides useful information.” @uwethics.bsky.social

#Media #Journalism #Politics

It’s political, not medical: Rethinking coverage of political leaders’ health By Abby Youran Qin When John Fetterman returned to the Pennsylvania Senate race after his stroke in 2022, his first televised debate became a national media moment. On stage, he addressed his recovery...

How should the press cover the health of political leaders? The stakes are high — political office carries real power — but so are the risks of reinforcing ageism or ableism.

Fellow @abbyqin.bsky.social reframes the issue of how to cover politicians' health.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2025/12/02/i...

YouTube video by On with Kara Swisher Is Journalism broken? Jessica Yellin explains

Last week, "On with Kara Swisher" aired the interview between @karaswisher.bsky.social and Jessica Yellin that took place at our fall conference. We couldn't have hosted this without Milwaukee-based podcast production company, Podcamp Media.

You can listen here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlvU...

Lenfest Institute to invest $1 million in partnerships between content creators and local newsrooms The Lenfest News Creator Collaborative and The Philadelphia Media Founders Exchange Creators Network will offer grants, training, and community for local newsrooms

Learn more about the program on our website and apply by Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 11:59 p.m. EST ⬇️

Headshot of Anthony Shadid along with text: The Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics, $10,000 prize, nominations due Jan. 15, 2026.

The window for nominations for the 2026 Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics opens today! Winners will receive $10,000 and will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2026. Full nomination info here: ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/shadid-award...

Headshot of Anthony Shadid along with text: The Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics, $10,000 prize, nominations due Jan. 15, 2026.

The window for nominations for the 2026 Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics opens today! Winners will receive $10,000 and will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2026. Full nomination info here: ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/shadid-award...

Q: What’s the point of journalism now? A: History By Samuel G. Freedman Eight months into Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, POLITICO broke an explosive story about the president’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel. The scoop ...

Samuel G. Freedman writes about the realities of journalism today -- when "even the most tenacious digging by journalists makes very little difference in public policy and the workings of government" -- and answers the question what it's all for.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/2025/11/06/q...