Confronted daily with decisions on how to present their stories, what to write and what not to write, journalists and the media are frequently accused of sensationalizing, of choosing to report the bad news, and of misquoting those they interview. In this substantially updated edition of Morals and the Media, Nick Russell addresses many of the concerns the public has about the media as he examines why the media behave the way they do. He also discusses how values have been developed and applied and suggests value systems that can be used to judge special situations.

Nicholas Russell's profile page

Nick Russell is a former journalist who taught in the School of Journalism at the University of Regina. He is well known for conducting ethics and editing workshops for working journalists. He lives in Victoria.

Morals and the Media belongs in any college or university program where journalism and media ethics are taught. I am certainly going to use it in my course in media ethics, grateful that, with book in hand, I now will not have to carry into class as many folders of clippings.

Canadian Journal of Communication

Morals and the Media lays out the dilemmas, kindles the thought processes, and discusses clearly and honestly the good, the bad, and the ugly of journalistic ethics – a must read for journalism students, would-be journalists, senior journalists, politicians, media marketers, and advertising sales staff.

Vancouver Sun

A big ambitious tome that's most recommendable for its exhaustive consideration of pretty much every area of journalism.

CJSF Radio

A handsomely produced book – presents convincing evidence that reporters, camera operators, and editors do indeed struggle over the ethical implications of what they do for a living.

Ottawa Citizen

The recently published second edition of this essential book is not only of interest to students of journalism, but a compelling read for anyone interested in news – Canadian news in particular ... Money, sex, violence, celebrity – it’s all here, but Mr. Russell takes these and many other topics and focuses them under a media lens. He asks the tough questions, uses plenty of well-chosen examples and thoroughly dissects the many moral challenges facing Canadian journalism today.

Newsletter of the Radio-TV News Directors Assn., Fall 2005