Ethics in the newsroom: Is the rush to be first worth the risk of being wrong?

3:00 - 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2015
PSU 313

In a 24/7 online world, there is a constant race amongst media outlets to be the first to report breaking news. It is common for media outlets to quote Twitter posts or even other media outlets in an effort to get news out as quickly as possible. But, in the rush to be the first, there are inherent risks. To what extent should media outlets rely on social media or citizen journalists? What are the ethical implications of instantaneous news reporting? How may citizens navigate through the maelstrom of breaking news to find an accurate accounting of events? 

Presenters