Journalism's role as a trustworthy source of verified information is under siege. With unprecedented speed, modern crises now spur a phenomenal amount of real-time media content that challenges conventional journalistic practices.

How does the rapid influx of information — and misinformation — impact communication professionals, journalists, and the public? Abbie and Adrian explore the dynamic interplay of ethics, truth-telling, and the role of technology in shaping public perception.

Read the transcript and notes for this episode on our website.

Key Takeaways

• The rapid proliferation of crises and media through advanced technology poses unique ethical challenges for journalists in reporting verified facts.
• Ethical journalism necessitates careful gatekeeping, especially when assessing user-generated content that could alter the authenticity of news stories.
• Adrian emphasizes that professional journalists, even when acting in good faith, face difficult editorial decisions driven by external and internal pressures.
• Abbie advocates for recognizing the complex decisions journalists must navigate to ethically and transparently communicate important narratives.
• We discuss historical precedents in media ethics, highlighting the importance of intention and good faith in journalism.

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”