How to Submit an Ethics Question to the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists

Updated

You can reach the Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists through two channels: submit your question online through the website, or call 866-DILEMMA (866-345-3662). The service is built for journalists who need guidance on a specific ethical dilemma, so the more concrete your question, the more useful the response is likely to be.

The two submission channels

Channel How to use it Best for
Online form Go to ethicsadvicelineforjournalists.org and submit your question through the site Detailed situations you can write out, or questions you want on record
Phone Call 866-DILEMMA (866-345-3662) Time-sensitive dilemmas or questions easier to talk through than type

The site's own instruction is short and direct: "Submit your question or phone 866-DILEMMA (866-345-3662)." Both routes lead to the same service.

What to include in your question

The AdviceLine responds to real ethical dilemmas, not general curiosity about media ethics. A question that gives the panel something to work with usually covers:

  • The decision you face. What are you being asked to do, or what are you considering doing?
  • The competing values. Accuracy vs. harm minimization, transparency vs. source protection, speed vs. verification.
  • The concrete facts. Who is involved, what has been published or promised, what deadlines apply.
  • What you have already tried. Editors consulted, policies checked, alternatives rejected.

For example, instead of asking "Is it ethical to use AI in reporting?", a stronger submission describes the specific case: you used an AI tool to draft interview questions, the tool surfaced a claim about a private individual, and you are unsure whether to pursue it. That level of detail is what turns a question into advice.

What you get back

The AdviceLine is an advisory service, not a regulator. Expect guidance and reasoning rather than a ruling you can cite as policy. The site's published case studies show the format: a real situation, the ethical tensions weighed, and a reasoned conclusion. Recent case work has covered topics such as interviewing AI, weighing benefits against harm, and minimizing harm — the kind of applied reasoning you can adapt to your own case.

Because responses are advisory, treat them as input to your own decision, alongside your newsroom's standards editor and any applicable policy.

Common sticking points

  • Vague questions get vague answers. "Is this ethical?" with no facts gives the panel nothing to analyze.
  • Urgency is not automatic. If you are on deadline, calling is faster than waiting on a written reply, but neither channel guarantees an instant answer.
  • The AdviceLine does not replace your editor. It supplements internal review; it does not authorize a decision on your newsroom's behalf.
  • No pricing or login details are published on the site. Do not assume the service is free or that no account is needed — check the site directly before relying on either assumption.

Quick start

  1. Write your dilemma in two or three sentences: the decision, the competing values, the facts.
  2. Choose your channel — submit online, or call 866-DILEMMA (866-345-3662).
  3. If you call, have your notes in front of you so you can answer follow-up questions.
  4. Treat the response as advisory input, and loop in your editor before acting.