The hottest Journalism Ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Why the Media Moves in Unison

Yascha Mounk • 3936 implied HN points • 22 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Analysis Public Opinion Social Dynamics Journalism Ethics Political Commentary
  1. Journalists often follow the same views not because they get orders, but because they want to fit in with their social circles. They care a lot about their reputation and what others think of them.
  2. When journalists are slow to recognize new evidence, it can create distrust among the public. People often think there must be some secret agreement behind the scenes when opinions suddenly change.
  3. Social pressure plays a huge role in shaping what becomes accepted or taboo in the media. When one journalist breaks ranks, it can open the floodgates for others to express what they really believe.

My New Substack

Yascha Mounk • 2637 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Issues Media Critique Political Discourse Public Opinion Journalism Ethics
  1. Public discussion is struggling and it's affecting politics and culture in a bad way. Addressing this issue is important for a healthier society.
  2. A direct connection between writers and readers can help bypass negative media influences. This allows for more honest and varied discussions.
  3. Expect a mix of thoughtful essays, timely commentary on big events, and conversations with interesting thinkers, all aimed at creating a richer intellectual community.

What's the Point of The New York Times?

JoeWrote • 196 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Criticism Press freedom Political Reporting Public Trust Journalism Ethics
  1. Many people don't trust traditional media like The New York Times anymore. They are turning to other sources like podcasts and blogs for news.
  2. Legacy media companies have lost readers because they often prioritize profits and sensational stories over accurate reporting.
  3. Even big newspapers can make mistakes, and if they don't admit them or improve their practices, they risk losing even more readers.

Notes On The Bezos Debacle At The Washington Post

Big Technology • 6630 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media influence Journalism Ethics
  1. Jeff Bezos didn't understand his audience at the Washington Post. By not endorsing a candidate, he disappointed many subscribers who expected a clear stance.
  2. Bezos might be trying to change the newspaper's direction. It's possible he's breaking from past norms to create something new, but it's still unclear what that is.
  3. While the idea of not endorsing candidates is interesting, the timing was poor. This decision made people question the newspaper's independence and hurt its trustworthiness.

Uri Berliner: What Congress Should Ask NPR’s Chief

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2837 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Trust Journalism Ethics
  1. Public radio needs to address its decline in trust among listeners, as many feel it has become biased and focused too much on specific issues.
  2. There have been missteps in covering important stories, such as dismissing the lab leak theory and overlooking the Hunter Biden laptop story.
  3. If NPR wants continued support from taxpayers, leaders should be ready to answer some tough questions about their approach to news coverage.
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A Trump Biographer Explains Why You Don’t Hate the New Jake Tapper Book About Joe Biden Nearly As Much As You Should

Proof • 74 implied HN points • 29 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Analysis Journalism Ethics Presidential elections Political critique Media influence
  1. Jake Tapper's book about Biden is seen as a cash grab, using sensational claims to attract readers. It focuses on negative aspects of Biden's image rather than providing balanced insights.
  2. The book relies on questionable sources and frames Biden's challenges in a misleading way. This results in a lack of trust in the information and its narrative.
  3. Many believe that the book's focus on Biden's decline is exaggerated and doesn't reflect the true context of his performance as president. It's criticized for ignoring important facts and presenting a biased perspective.

What We Might Mean by "Liberal Bias"

Freddie deBoer • 9777 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media bias Journalism Ethics Political Advocacy Public Perception
  1. Liberal activists advocate for media to move away from balanced reporting and towards acknowledging facts over false equivalence
  2. Journalistic shifts towards liberal advocacy can lead to overlooking alternative perspectives, such as left critiques of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts
  3. The financial model of news media can create a cycle of confirming readers' biases, limiting diverse perspectives and challenging journalism

Matt Gurney: Australia, but in a bad way

The Line • 2653 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
📰 News Media Regulation Tech Companies Government Response Journalism Ethics
  1. Some tech giants have exited the Canadian news market due to a new law, C-18, prompting comparisons to the situation in Australia.
  2. Australia implemented legislation on big tech companies supporting local journalism, which initially led to threats of pullouts but ultimately resulted in deals being struck.
  3. The concerns in Canada are whether the deals with big tech companies will save journalism or end up benefiting legacy companies more, potentially undermining media independence.

No News is Good News

Soaring Twenties • 123 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media influence Public Opinion Political Discourse Journalism Ethics Information Consumption
  1. Consuming news can drain your energy and happiness. It's often filled with negativity and sensationalism that can leave you feeling stressed and confused.
  2. People often think they need news to be informed or good citizens, but this belief doesn’t really hold up. Most news doesn't significantly impact your life or help you make better decisions.
  3. Instead of following the news, focus on your local community and the things you can actually influence. True understanding comes from deeper reading and personal experiences, not from constant news updates.

Israel’s War on Journalism

The Chris Hedges Report • 282 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Foreign Policy Journalism Ethics Human Rights
  1. Journalists in Gaza face extreme danger, with many being targeted and killed. This has led to a significant decline in press freedom in the region.
  2. Foreign reporters in Israel are often controlled by the military and may not report the true situation on the ground in Gaza. This creates a misleading narrative around the conflict.
  3. The actions of the Israeli government against journalists threaten global press freedom. It sends a message that those revealing the truth about war can be silenced or harmed.