“The term is deliberately misleading. It sounds harmless – almost trendy – when its real purpose is to make white nationalists, white supremacists and neo-Nazis sound less frightening.”
— Globe and Mail Public Editor Sylvia Stead … Read More
Blog
‘Alt-right’ softens the vileness of a racist movement
Should ombudsmen criticize opinion?
Dealing with the question of whether ombuds should be involved in critiquing opinion journalism has long been a problem. That’s because journalism should be about allowing a range of opinions. But what if an opinion goes too far? Yavuz Baydar … Read More
Letters give readers a chance to become involved
There is little that warms the cockles of a journalist’s heart more than reader responses to the things we publish. They prove that you are reading, are moved by what you see, and are willing to spend time telling us what you think.
Source’s criminal history: a deciding factor in coverage?
Should a person’s criminal history be a factor when deciding whether to interview him or her for a story unrelated to the crime? … Read More
The post-9/11 decline of media independence
Media growth in the 10 years since 9/11 has been explosive with the Internet, social networks, mobile devices and tablets, and the proliferation of news outlets on cable, online and via satellite.
“But once,” says Ed Wasserman, media columnist and Washington and Lee University professor, “the media were also institutions that recognized they had a role to play, not just a market to serve, and that role obliged them sometimes to defy the received wisdom, not cave to it. And that recognition is in steep decline.” … Read More
Now you see it, now you don’t
Ombudsman Arthur Brisbane hopes the New York Times adopts clear standards for how mistakes and changes are handled in the fast-paced digital environment. … Read More
Oops! How The Star deals with its mistakes
Newspapers used to have a standard response to outsiders’ criticisms: “We stand by our story.” But times have changed and in many places, acknowledging errors is becoming more common. However, says Nairobi Star Ombudsman Karen Rothmyer, the trend toward more corrections hasn’t yet come to Kenya. … Read More
Courtesy-title policy requires occasional explanation
Toledo Blade Readers wonder why some people receive courtesy titles in news stories while others do not. Having a courtesy title is a privilege, notes ombudsman Jack Lessenberry, and the editors don’t grant that privilege to someone who has been convicted of a felony. … Read More
ABU 47th General Assembly: Resilience in Broadcasting
Nearly 400 delegates from 42 countries gathered in Tokyo last fall for the 47th ABU General Assembly. One of the highlights was a session which explored the rapid growth of new media technologies and how Asian-Pacific broadcasters should respond. Additionally, the ABU will look into the issue of whether broadcasters should appoint an ombudsman and adopt a code of practice to maintain audience trust. … Read More