What We Do
The Center for Media Ethics and Literacy fosters the study and practice of the journalistic principles of accuracy, fairness and service to the public in editorial/news; in broadcast, radio and television; and in advertising and public relations. We play an integral role in shaping the future of journalism by educating students and professionals on the tenets of ethics, preparing them to employ those principles as a matter of course and teaching them to reach ethical decisions as routine and not exception.
History
The Center for Media Ethics and Literacy was established to promote ethical practices and standards in journalism. Its mission is to provide resources, education, and support for journalists, students, and educators to foster integrity, accountability, and transparency in the field. The center offers various programs, workshops, and seminars aimed at enhancing ethical decision-making in journalism. It also conducts research and collaborates with professionals and organizations to address contemporary ethical issues in media. The center serves as a valuable resource for students and faculty at the University of Arkansas, providing them with the tools and knowledge to navigate the complex ethical landscape of modern journalism.
About Us
Interim Director- Gina Shelton
Email- ginas@uark.edu
Phone- 479-575-7255
Gina Holland Shelton is a former national reporter for The Associated Press, where her 17-year career included five years covering the U.S. Supreme Court. Her first experience with media ethics was in high school working as a breaking news photographer covering crime and accident scenes in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Gina, a second-generation journalist and graduate of Mississippi State University, joined the University of Arkansas in 2013 and has taught multiple courses including Media Law, Government and Media, News Reporting I and II, and Editing. Since 2015 she has directed the Lemke Journalism Project, a high school multicultural reporting program that teaches media literacy and ethics to young people from diverse backgrounds.
She serves as campus adviser to the student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and is president of the Northwest Arkansas Pro SPJ chapter.
Graduate Assistant- Kaslyn Tidmore
Email- tidmore@uark.edu
Phone- 479-575-6540
Kaslyn Tidmore is a second-year graduate student at the University of Arkansas, earning her master’s degree in public relations and advertising. Before joining the master’s program in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Kaslyn graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism with a minor in editing and publishing. She has worked for Walton Insights, Parker County Today Magazine, WedLink Media, Modern Luxury, and the OU Daily.