It's Time for Bigger Goals in Journalism

Ethical Practices in Today's Media

As a student seeking to make your impact on the world, you can join forces with your peers, University faculty, media practitioners and community leaders to cultivate and elevate best practices that support fair and accurate journalism across media platforms.

Take part in special programming, guest lectures, networking opportunities, high-quality internships and unique courses that highlight what it means to work ethically in today's media. The Institute offers a variety of programs that showcase the choices, values and consequences inherent in our media and communicative practices.

Regardless of your major, you'll have the opportunity to help produce Ethically Speaking, the Institute’s podcast series created in collaboration with Duquesne’s Center for Emerging and Innovative Media.

Rooted in the University's commitment to ethics, the Institute occasionally recognizes outstanding journalism practitioners and bestows awards to Duquesne students conducting research in media ethics. The Institute's work is made possible thanks to a grant from Duquesne alumna Practicia Doherty Yoder.

Institute Activities

Keystone News Summit

As part of its mission to restore public trust in journalism, the Institute partners with several Pennsylvania universities to host the Keystone News Summit — an annual gathering of media professionals, journalism professors, nonprofit and profit-making news organizations, and government officials for a nuanced discussion on workable solutions to the challenges facing today’s newsrooms. The summit provides a critical forum for exploring new business models, fostering collaboration between news organizations, and addressing ethical concerns in contemporary journalism.

Visit the Keystone News Summit Website

Duquesne University Award for Ethics in Journalism

Established to highlight ethical excellence in the field, the Award for Ethics in Journalism honors local and national media professionals who exemplify, integrity, fairness and a commitment to responsible journalism, and those who have made a lasting impact on public trust and media accountability.

Inaugural Winner

Yamiche accepting the award from President Ken Gormley

NBC News correspondent Yamiche Alcindor received the inaugural Duquesne University Award for Ethics and Integrity in Journalism to honor her exemplary reporting on civil rights and her steadfast commitment to responsible journalism.

Selected by a distinguished committee, Alcindor embodies the highest standards of ethics and integrity, fearlessly confronting complex issues with balance and depth. As the anchor and moderator of Washington Week on PBS and an NBC News Washington correspondent, she has dedicated her career to amplifying underrepresented voices and covering issues that shape public discourse. Her work aligns with Duquesne University’s mission to promote trust in journalism and uphold the profession’s essential role in a democratic society.

“Yamiche Alcindor has not been afraid to confront even the most difficult topics in a steady and balanced fashion, and she has remained true to her compass even in the face of controversy,” Duquesne University President Ken Gormley told distinguished guests attending the ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

Visiting Scholars

As part of the University's mission to provide a horizon-expanding education, the Institute sponsors a visiting media scholar, whose mission is to offer innovative courses not part of the core curriculum but aimed at keeping students up-to-date with the many changes affecting the industry. In spring 2025, visiting media scholar Sara Bauknecht is teaching AI in the Newsroom, a course offered to all Duquesne University students.

Sara Bauknecht presents about how educators can incorporate AI tools into the classroom during a brown bag luncheon.

Tech Symposium

In partnership with the Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and Law, the Institute co-hosts an annual Tech Symposium each fall. The Institute moderated panels at the most recent symposium focusing on generative AI’s influence on polling and elections, AI’s influence on social media, and AI’s influence on the gaming industry.

Our Code of Ethics

We strive to promote trust in journalism and news media by creating an ongoing dialogue with the public and regional partners to foster best practices to support local and national journalism that is fair and accurate, to recognize outstanding journalism practitioners, and to offer enhanced educational and professional learning experiences for Duquesne students.

Accuracy

Write the truth—verifying all information before releasing it—and provide context and attribution for the facts. Do not plagiarize, omit critical facts or pay for access to news.

Impartiality

Strive for fairness and balance, avoid conflicts of interest and maintain independence from the people you cover.

Transparency

Identify sources unless they face retribution or danger for cooperating.

Accountability

Seek feedback about your work; admit and promptly correct mistakes.

Responsibility

Serve as a watchdog for the public, yet balance the public's need to know against potential harm.

Respect

Treat those you deal with in your work with respect and courtesy; avoid imposing your cultural values on others.