Poynter, Newmark Ethics Forum Seeks Greater News Trustworthiness, Produces Optimism

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Journalists and other media thought leaders gathered at the Paley Center for Media in Manhattan this week to collaborate on a new set of ethical guidelines. The forum – presented by The Poynter Institute, in partnership with Craig Newmark's Web-based initiative, craigconnnects, and the Paley Center – featured a series of speakers, many of whom will contribute to Poynter's new book on journalism ethics in the digital age. Funding for the symposium was provided through grants provided by the Ford Foundation and craigconnects.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110323/MM70721LOGO)

"The symposium generated insights on fact-checking and truth, the role of journalists in inspiring citizen journalism, and the ways in which social media technology encourages and counters journalism's purposes," said Poynter President Karen B. Dunlap. "The day brought a different kind of crowdsourcing, a rich discussion with a varied group of good thinkers."

"We plowed new ground on a number of topics," added Kelly McBride, Poynter's Senior Faculty for Ethics, Reporting and Writing. "We explored a desperate need for transparency on numerous levels. We picked apart the inherent tension between journalism values and those of private platforms. And we looked at the hurdles we face as communities in the digital space. I'm optimistic that the work we've done will be the foundation for future journalism in service of democracy."

McBride will edit the new guidelines with Tom Rosenstiel, founder and director of Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. Contributors to the book include Clay Shirky, writer, consultant and professor; Ann Friedman, writer and editor; Eric Deggans, media critic, Tampa Bay Times; Emily Bell, director of the Tow Centre for Digital Journalism, Columbia University; Adam Hochberg, instructor, University of North Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications; Craig Silverman, writer, Regret the Error; Dan Gillmor, director, Knight Center for Digital Entrepreneurship, Arizona State University; Gilad Lotan, vice president, Research and Development, SocialFlow; Tom Huang, Sunday and enterprise editor, The Dallas Morning News; Monica Guzman, columnist, The Seattle Times; Steve Myers, formerly of Poynter and now deputy managing editor at The (New Orleans) Lens; danah boyd (preferred spelling), professor and senior researcher, Microsoft Research; and Kenny Irby, Poynter senior faculty, Visual Journalism and Diversity.

The forum generated more than a thousand Tweets under #poynterethics:

Steve Myers ‏@myersnews
@moniguzman @kellymcb If you value relationship with your community, you need to have a biz model that values it too.

Paley Media Council ‏@Media_Council
Mobile has become the most democratic media platform that we have.

Sandy Azzollini ‏@sazzollini
@Deggans: We only talk about race issues in crisis. We start discussions on this when news is breaking.

Morgan Watkins ‏@morganwatkins26
Great point. RT @jcstearns: Journalism shouldn't be digital first or print first; it should be community first.

Meghan Peters ‏@petersmeg
What objectivity was in the past is what we would consider transparency today.

"At such a turbulent time in the journalism industry, it's gratifying to be able to convene so many important stakeholders for such an important conversation," said J. Max Robins, vice president and executive director for industry programs at the Paley Center. "We couldn't be more pleased with the level of discourse—both in the room and from those watching the live stream."

Said Newmark, "I figure we got some genuine momentum behind restoring the trustworthiness of the news industry."

To access the archived video, photos, tweets and other highlights, please visit http://www.poynter.org/poynterethics.

About The Poynter Institute

Founded in 1975 in St. Petersburg, Fla., The Poynter Institute is one of the nation's top schools for professional journalists and news media leaders, as well as future journalists and journalism teachers. Poynter offers training throughout the year in the areas of online and multimedia, leadership and management, reporting, writing and editing, TV and radio, ethics and diversity, journalism education and visual journalism. Poynter's News University (www.newsu.org) offers journalism training to the public through more than 200 interactive modules and other forms of e-learning. It has more than 200,000 registered users in 225 countries. Poynter's website, (www.poynter.org) is the dominant provider of journalism news, with a focus on business analysis and the opportunities and implications of technology.

About craigconnects

Launched in March 2011, craigconnects is Craig Newmark's personal, Web-based initiative to support philanthropy, public service, and organizations getting results in both areas.  The initiative spotlights individuals, organizations and agencies working for veterans and military families, open government, public diplomacy, back-to-basics journalism, consumer protection, election protection and voter registration, and technology for the common good.  craigconnects is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives. 

About Media Council at the Paley Center for Media

The Media Council brings together top executives and leading thinkers in the global media industry to discuss critical issues that will define the media and its role in society for generations to come. The Media Council's global reach and extraordinary convening authority enable it to host a broad spectrum of gatherings—including Roundtable Breakfasts, Boardroom Luncheons, Dialogues, Panel Discussions, and other special events—at its distinctive locations in New York City and Los Angeles. Serving as both catalyst and independent forum, it facilitates discussions on pressing topics that span all areas of the industry, including communications, technology, creative content, and journalism. For information about becoming a member of the Media Council, please contact Stephanie Kousoulas at 212.621.6732 or [email protected].

CONTACT: 

Kelly McBride
Senior Faculty, Ethics, Reporting and Writing
The Poynter Institute
[email protected]
727-821-9494

Jessica Blais
Marketing Director
The Poynter Institute
[email protected]
727-821-9494

Bruce Bonafede
Media Liaison
craigconnects
760-831-5080
[email protected]

Joel Topcik
Director, Industry Programs
The Paley Center for Media
212-621-6612
[email protected]

SOURCE The Poynter Institute