Ethical Journalism in a Populist Age: The Democratically Engaged Journalist

by Stephen J.A. Ward

“Fake news,” “alternative facts,” and daily attacks on the media from the Trump White House are redefining the media’s role for a new generation. Mainstream media has traditionally allowed journalists two roles. In order to remain ethical, they must either be neutral observers reporting the facts or signal that they are biased interpreters espousing a partisan agenda.

In this provocative new work, leading global media ethicist Stephen Ward suggests that journalism needs to embrace a third path and begin practicing a new kind of journalism: democratically engaged journalism. It is only by breaking free of dualistic ethical practices that the world’s media will be able to address ‘Trumpism’—a heady mix of populism, authoritarian leadership, narrow patriotism, and moral tribalism (Us versus Them). Weaving in rich examples from daily journalism, this timely book will address practical questions such as how to cover a constant torrent of presidential “tweets,” how fact-checking plays a part in democratically engaged media, and how journalists should respond to the pressure to be patriotic in their coverage of global issues such as immigration and the impact of Trump’s “America First” foreign policy.

At issue is the need to construct a new journalism ethics for today’s social context. We need a new approach to journalism ethics not only to report on the Trump presidency but also for reporting in a digital, global world.

Genres: Politics, Journalism

232 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2018

About the author

Stephen J.A. Ward is an internationally recognized media ethicist whose writings and projects have influenced the development of the field in theory and practice. He is an educator, consultant, keynote speaker and award-winning author. Ward has extensive experience in media both academically and professionally. He resides in Madison, WI, USA. He is Distinguished Lecturer in Ethics at the School of Journalism, University of British Columbia and Courtesy Professor in the School of Journalism, University of Oregon. He is founding Director of the Center for Journalism Ethics, School of Journalism and Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is former director of the Graduate School of journalism, University of British Columbia. Most recently, he was interim director of the international Organization of News Ombudsmen.

Reviews

[Xander Ready · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. We need to continually evaluate media ethical codes and standards, especially in this fraught time. I am conflicted about some if the standards taken as unalterable in the field of journalism. So I preordered this book and squeezed in time to read it during my first semester pursuing a master’s in journalism.

Unfortunately, this book read like a well-reasoned but droning term paper. The bulk of its pages are spent on telling the reader what is about to be defined, then defining it. I understand the importance of clear definitions as foundational to any ethical discussion, but when midway through the book I reached a section defining the characteristics of a useful definition, I put the book down and didn’t pick it up again for a week.

The writing is precise, thoroughly researched, and does eventually make some interesting points. It really comes down to this: Journalists need to 1) put facts in analytical context and 2) take responsibility that what they write may advance or hinder the wellbeing of humanity as a pluralistic, democratic society. Also, the author explains that extremism is universally bad (and thoroughly defines it), and populism has a long history with both positive and negative outcomes.

In sum, this book is undeniably thorough in its background and educates its readers deeply on the topics of authoritarianism, populism, and extremism. Unfortunately, its conclusions are less expounded upon than its background information, and it reads like a collection of appendices.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

ANOTHER populist, telling people AGAIN what they want to hear, and, the best, what some people, not Ward, should do.