Institute for Ethics

Explains the origin and history of the First Amendment, discussing its guarantee of freedom of the press, tracing its evolution, and containing firsthand accounts of press freedom challenges by top newspaper editors.

The nature of journalism requires that an ethical decision be made at every stage. While many of these decisions lead to obvious choices, many present thorny problems; some questions may be so subtle that they are not even noticed consciously by the journalist. This up-to-date collection of more than two dozen real-life cases illustrates the moral issues facing contemporary American journalists. It will help students hone their reasoning skills, encouraging them to think rationally and act with integrity. The cases are presented in substantial detail to provide students with a realistic sense of the complexity of issues facing journalists today.