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University of Wisconsin–Madison

Resources for Journalists

Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism public engagement and marketing assistant Natalie Yahr interviews Bob Blersch on primary day at the Oconomowoc Community Center on August 14, 2018, as part of the Center's ongoing series "Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. the People." (Katie Scheidt / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism)

why should i tell you?: A guide to less extractive reporting

What vulnerable communities stand to gain — or lose — from sharing their stories with reporters, and what reporters are doing about it. By Center fellow Natalie Yahr.

Covering misinformation & disinformation on social media

Exploring the fast-paced, facts-optional and sort of sticky-feeling world of the social web can be an overwhelming experience for any reporter.

Photo of police car.

Covering Mass Shootings

Stop scrambling for ‘why’ and stop calling them ‘shooters.’ By contributor Katherine Reed, professor at the Missouri School of Journalism.

Correcting mistakes on twitter

How and why Twitter corrections happen.

Covering suicide responsibly

More than 50 international studies have found that certain types of media coverage can increase the likelihood of suicide for some individuals. By Center fellow Isaac Alter.

On April 3, 2018, students fill out ballots for the Wisconsin Spring Election in Tripp Commons inside the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of several official polling places for UW-Madison students living on campus. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)

Covering elections

Avoiding the horserace: a guide for ethical election coverage. By Center fellow Isaac Alter.

Photo of small blue house perched on edge of a cement dock.

Covering hate speech without amplifying it

Journalists must alert society to hateful speech without unduly ampiflying the voices of hate propagandists. By Center fellow Abigail Steinberg.

Lake Mendota and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, including Alumni Park and the Memorial Union Terrace, are pictured in an early morning aerial taken from a helicopter on Oct. 23, 2018. (Photo by Bryce Richter /UW-Madison)

TIPS FOR BALANCED AND INFORMED CRIME COVERAGE

11 tips for ethical crime reporting. By Center fellow Natalie Yahr.

Image of a microphone against a dark backdrop

Using confidential sources

Tips and guidelines journalists should consider when using confidential sources, as well as a few resources that caution against them. By Center fellow Steven Potter.

Red graphic showing view of drone from above.

Drones in the News

White Paper: Newsrooms should develop and communicate drone policies. By Center director Kathleen Bartzen Culver and Megan Duncan.

Red graphic showing view of drone from above.

Drones in the Newsrooms

White Paper: Newsrooms should build trust with audiences in drone journalism. By Center director Kathleen Bartzen Culver and Megan Duncan.

EXTERNAL RESOURCES