Samuel D. Robinson – SPJ Ethics Central

Both the jury and judge who considered Sarah Palin’s libel lawsuit against The New York Times concluded she did not prove her case. That means news shops will continue to enjoy the high legal standard that’s rarely met by plaintiffs attempting to prove libel.

In the 18 years since Jayson Blair was caught plagiarizing and fabricating his way through stories he wrote for The New York Times, public awareness of journalistic missteps has increased and the need for journalists to consistently adhere to high ethical standards has become even more critical.

Growing up on the Navajo Nation, Shondiin Silversmith could pick up a local newspaper and read stories about her community. But as soon as she left the 27,000 square miles of Navajoland, she stopped seeing herself reflected in newspapers, even in bordering cities like Flagstaff, Arizona.