Journalism's Ethical Progression

Gwyneth Mellinger is director of the School of Media Arts & Design at James Madison University.John P. Ferré is professor of communication at the University of Louisville.

This sterling book is a showcase of quality scholarship, with a readability index of ten. Contrary to the anthology genre, every chapter without exception is rigorous and path-breaking. Its cohesion is marvelous, the result of prior collaborations, and the masterpiece essays of introduction and conclusion. Journalism's Ethical Progression: A Twentieth-Century Journey demonstrates its thesis that the ideas and strategies from critical junctures in history enable our understanding of the complicated issues today.

• Introduction: Journalism’s Ethical Progression Gwyneth MellingerChapter 1: The Progressive Era’s Social Awakening and the Soul of the NewsRonald R. RodgersChapter 2: A “Failure to Take Itself Seriously”: The Canons of Journalism and the Model of InactionKen J. WardChapter 3: The Lippmann-Dewey “Debate”: Roles and Responsibilities of Journalists in a Democratic SocietyTim Klein and Elisabeth FondrenChapter 4: Francis Biddle and the Jennings Case in 1934-35: A Labor Union, the First Amendment, and Government Oversight Patrick S. Washburn and Michael S. SweeneyChapter 5: Dorothy Day and The Catholic Worker’s Legacy of PacifismBailey DickChapter 6: War Correspondents, Women’s Interests, and World War IICarolyn M. EdyChapter 7: Conflicts of Interest in Journalism: Debating a Post-Hutchins Ethical Self-ConsciousnessGwyneth MellingerChapter 8: Ethical Duty and the Right to Know: Sam Ragan’s Crusades to Provide the Public with Access to InformationErin K. CoyleChapter 9: “Blackenin