The media landscape has never been more dynamic and changing. How are legal and ethical issues being shaped by this climate? Journalism students at the University of Minnesota Duluth explored this question in a series of articles and essays that look across the media spectrum.
Note: These articles were created as part of a media law and ethics course and represent the opinions of individuals and not the University of Minnesota. For questions, contact John Hatcher, assistant professor of journalism, University of Minnesota Duluth.
Blogs and investigative reporting
Political blogs changing the face of media
One landmark Minnesota legal case may shape the future for bloggers in the United States.
Are the watchdogs still barking?
This article takes a look at the importance of investigative reporting throughout American history and asks whether it is still practiced in today’s media.
The campus and the classroom
Student journalists build stories from the ground up
A visit to East High School in Duluth, Minn., finds high school journalists are active members in the communities they write about, and as a result, they report from the bottom up.
Colleges debate alcohol advertising
Administrators at some universities are attempting to censor alcohol advertisements in collegiate newspapers.
Offensive material in student newspapers
A series of articles looking at what happens when college newspapers publish offensive materials and what protections campus papers have.
The business of journalism
Editorial endorsements raise questions of transparency, independence at Duluth News Tribune
The article that follows examines the role of the owner and/or publisher on the editorial endorsement process, specifically the case of the Duluth News Tribune’s endorsement of Tim Pawlenty.
Where do you get your news?
This commentary summarizes the argument against large media organizations, and bows in favor of local news outlets.
Mixed signals in Duluth media landscape
An examination of the Duluth journalism scene and what that means for journalists and consumer of news.
Crime reporting
Debate continues on naming rape victims
Most news organizations agree that rape victims shouldn’t be named.
Sex offender information: Where to draw the line
Journalist Jackie Zahorsky produced this streaming audio report on drawing the line between what the public should know and the privacy of a person.
Reporting on cops and courts
A series of articles looking at the difficult ethical issues journalists encounter when reporting on courts, crime and public safety.
Behind the lens
Fight for photo rights
Two photography companies in the state of Wisconsin entered into a contract with the state’s governing body of high school athletics which gave the private companies complete rights to all images obtained at state championship sporting events. Major Wisconsin news sources saw this as an infringement upon their rights to cover these events.
A different perspective on photojournalism
Informed consent means allowing the subject to know fully what it is you are going to use their photos or information for.
Covering arts and entertainment
A trip through music journalism
This article chronicles the adventures of Luke Fischer through the world of obscure writers, musicians, and ethical dilemmas.
Celebrities’ private matters: Truly private or open to the media?
This commentary is about why the media should not involve themselves in the lives of celebrities and public officials. It includes the perspective of the current mayor of Duluth, as well as of journalists.
Health care reporting
How to cover health care effectively
This article explores some of the processes a journalist will have to go through to report on health care effectively. It focuses on a story that Brandon Stahl is currently working on and the steps he has to take to complete the article.