Ethical Journalism Newsletter: January 20, 2015

Ethical Journalism News

“Mainstream Media Must Not Spread Hate Speech”

The director of the EJN explained at a meeting, organised by the Press Club Brussels Europe, how influential media sometimes creates a climate of hatred and how this situation can be avoided. “It’s not because something is outrageous that it make news. (…) We need to show humanity when we tell stories. Otherwise, there are people who could be hurt.” (via The European Federation of Journalists)

GCHQ Captured Emails Of Journalists From Top International Media

GCHQ’s bulk surveillance of electronic communications has scooped up emails to and from journalists working for some of the US and UK’s largest media organisations, analysis of documents released by whistleblower Edward Snowden reveals. (via The Guardian)

Chequebook Journalism And The Sydney Siege

The survivors of the Sydney siege now face the prospect of seeing their misfortune turned into a fortune as commercial media jockey to buy their stories. Yet chequebook journalism creates a market for information that titillates rather than informs. (via The Drum)

Was Times ‘Disgusting’ to Grant Anonymity to Al Qaeda Source?

Director of the F.B.I. James B. Comey has smacked The Times for using information from an anonymous Al Qaeda member in a news story about the deadly attacks in Paris. (via The New York Times)

Enhance Your Digital Security in 2015 with These Eight Tools

2014 has been a wakeup call for journalists to protect their sources and themselves, following Edward Snowden’s release of NSA data showing that privacy is rare in this digital era. These tools are just the first steps to becoming a digital security expert, but they’re simple, quick ways to start protecting yourself. (via ICFJ)