Photo of conference participants gathering for lunch in the atrium of the Discovery Building on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus

Past Conferences

The Center for Journalism Ethics holds an annual conference on journalism ethics, with each year taking on a new and critical issue in this field. Held on the UW–Madison campus, these conferences are free and open to the public. Here you can find an archive of our past conferences.

2023: Ethics, Urgency & Climate Journalism

 

Addressing the ethical dimensions of covering climate change for

our local, state, national and global communities.

 

2023 Conference Page

2022: Centering Equity: Journalism, Ethics and a Just Future

 

Ethically covering inequity and injustice while also tackling

inequities within the field of journalism.

 

2022 Conference Page

2021: Journalism Ethics & Local News Now

 

New and ethical approaches to overcoming

the challenges of doing local news now.

 

2021 Conference Page

2019: What MeToo Means for Gender, Power & Ethical Journalism

Graphic image reading conference title, "What MeToo Means for Gender, Power and Ethical Journalism"

 

The power of portrayal, overcoming bias in the newsroom, and

real world solutions for moving forward with equity and integrity.

 

2018: Division, Denial & Journalism Ethics

 

Bridging divides among news consumers; conspiracies and

public debate; how journalists can build trust.

 

2018 Conference Page

2017: Truth, Trust and the Future of Journalism

 

The challenge of truth; conspiracies, hoaxes and

disinformation; and solutions in a “post-truth” era.

 

2017 Conference Page

2016: Race, Ethnicity and Journalism Ethics

 

Exploring how news media portray race and ethnicity; reporting on race,

criminal justice and education; racial diversity in newsrooms.

 

2016 Conference Page

2015: Ethics and Sports Journalism

Investigating race, gender and sexuality in sports

media; criticism and vitriol; money in sports media

 

2015 Conference Page

2014: Surveillance, Security and Journalism Ethics

Protecting sources, using surveillance and

data in journalism, changing norms.

 

2014 Conference Page

2013: Shaping the News

 

Brand journalism, investigative reporting,

watchdog media and attacks on the news media.

 

2013 Conference Page

2012: Ethics & Elections - Media, Money and Power

 

Implications of fact checking, political advertising, Twitter

and votes and a Tribute to Anthony Shadid.

 

2012 Conference Page

2011: Partisan Media in a Democracy

 

Rise and fall of partisan journalism, nonprofit

journalism and transparency, polling and polarization.

 

2011 Conference Page

2010: New Journalism, New Ethics?

 

The new ecosystem, investigative newsrooms, old

values in a new media world and verification journalism.

 

2010 Conference Page

2009: The Future of Ethical Journalism

 

Tough newsroom calls, democratic journalism and a

dialogue with the New York Times public editor.

 

2009 Conference Page