Publications - Society of Professional Journalists

Home > Publications

Publications

Journalism’s complicated relationship with transparency

Journalism Ethics: A Casebook of Professional Conduct for News Media

Closely organized around the Society of Professional Journalists' code of ethics — the news industry's widely accepted "gold standard" of journalism principles — this updated edition uses real-life case studies to demonstrate how journalism students and professionals can identify and reason through ethical dilemmas.

The Journalist's Toolbox

This free site from the Society of Professional Journalists contains thousands of links helpful for reporters, editors, educators or anyone else doing research.

This free site from the Society of Professional Journalists contains thousands of links helpful for reporters, editors, educators or anyone else doing research. Edited by former Los Angeles Times reporter and Arizona State University Professor of Practice Mike Reilley, the site is organized by beats and industry topics such as Public Records, Crime, Legal Issues, Science, Environment, Journalism Jobs, Sports and more. The Toolbox is updated twice weekly and several times a day during prominent global breaking news events.

Still Captive? History, Law & the Teaching of High School Journalism

This new book, from SPJ's Journalism Education Committee, explores not just the state of high school journalism, but a way to help teachers improve their own skills. This work is for high school journalism teachers and anyone who is interested in preserving these programs.

Updated for 2018! On Your Own: A Guide to Freelance Journalism

The online version of the SPJ Freelance Community’s guide to freelancing, now updated with new information for 2018. Free for all members.

Ethics Committee Position Papers

This collection of position papers is intended to clarify SPJ’s position on specific ethical themes that frequently arise in journalism, and also to provide better guidance for journalists, academics, students and the public when consulting SPJ's Code of Ethics.

This collection of position papers, produced by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee, is intended to clarify SPJ’s position on specific ethical themes that frequently arise in journalism, and also to provide better guidance for journalists, academics, students and the public when consulting the SPJ Code of Ethics.

The following papers are available for immediate reference, with more — on using anonymous sources, undercover reporting, dealing with victims of tragedy, handling diversity coverage, privacy and news media accountability — to release over the coming months:

Newly Added:
— Reporting on Grief, Tragedy and Victims
— Anonymous Sources
— Accountability

Also Available:
— Using the SPJ Code
— Plagiarism
— Checkbook Journalism
— Political Involvement

Open Doors: Accessing Government Records

SPJ's Open Doors project is a comprehensive guide not only to the Freedom of Information Act, but also to freedom of information in general and how it applies to your work and even your life.

What would our profession do without the ability to access information held by government agencies? What would we do without state and federal Freedom of Information laws? SPJ's Open Doors project is a comprehensive guide not only to the Freedom of Information Act, but also to freedom of information in general and how it applies to your work and even your life.

SPJ News
– Region 1 Mark of Excellence winners announced in Philadelphia
– Region 9 Mark of Excellence winners announced in Denver
– Region 10 Mark of Excellence winners announced

Quill: The Latest
– Journalism’s complicated relationship with transparency
– Happy 109th Birthday, SPJ! Here are 109 things we love about you.
– Student press freedom laws gain momentum
– A primer for journalists covering sexual assault
– Sinclair’s ‘teachable moment’ raises even more questions

Journalist's Toolbox
– Mobile Journalism
– Drones and VR Journalism
– Fact-Checking Resources
– Twitter and Social Media Resources
– Data Journalism Tools