ABSTRACT
Acton Gorton, the editor-in-chief of The Daily Illini, wrote an opinion piece that ran beside the cartoons in which he described the cartoons as “bigoted and insensitive,” but criticized US newspapers for not publishing them. Gorton and Prochaska responded in a column of their own, accusing the other editorial board members of a lack of courage and commitment to a free press and the First Amendment. As a journalist reporters have learned how to gather information and put it together in a story accurately and fairly. Many journalists follow the code of ethics for the Society of Professional Journalists. The code covers four broad areas that can guide reporters in reporters decision-making: Seek truth and report it, Minimize harm, Act independently, and Be accountable. Gorton and Prochaska were suspended from The Daily Illini for their decision to run the cartoons, and a student task force was created to investigate how the decision to publish was made and communicated internally.
