2020 was quite the year
This has been extraordinary eight weeks in American politics - weeks which followed an extraordinary four years. The Project issued this statement in response to attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. We wrote, in part:
Those who participate in our political system have an obligation to that system. Unfounded attacks on elections and democratic institutions undermine popular support for, and threaten our political system…Our republic is not a rock standing tall on a barren landscape, holding firm against the elements. It did not exist before we invented it, and it cannot continue to exist unless we care for it.
Recent research by scholars at half a dozen institutions examined the damage being done by baseless attacks on the election and a disregard for political norms. They write, “…when elites are unconstrained and violate norms, their supporters respond accordingly.”
In the midst of it all, the Project on Ethics in Political Communication has been promoting the study, teaching and practice of ethics in political communication. Below are some highlights of the past year. With your help, we can continue to grow and succeed. Forward this email to friends who might find our work interesting, let us know who else we should reach out to, and what else we should be doing. And of course, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Events
In March, the Project marked its first anniversary with an event about ethics and speechwriting. Since then we have hosted half a dozen more with a scholars, political insiders, and students. Watch them here.
Press
Journalists and podcasters sought out the Project for our take on politics in 2020. You can check out our media coverage here.
Writing
The Project continues to work with the Media Ethics Initiative at the University of Texas - Austin on classroom-ready case studies. We also wrote pieces for The Hill, Campaigns & Elections, The Fulcrum, Media Ethics, and Communication Currents. You can read our articles here. We also continue to write for our own blog. Have an idea for a blog post you want to write? Let me know.
Book
Political Communication Ethics: Theory and Practice came out in August. Half of the book’s chapters are by scholars covering everything from Isocrates, to digital politics, to race. The other half are by practitioners (including one of Biden’s first White House hires) writing about the daily ethical choices advocates make.
“a rich and timely compendium…”
James A. Thurber, founder, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, American University
“This text is essential in understanding the essential role of ethics in the theory and practice of politics in a democracy.”
Robert E. Denton Jr., Virginia Tech
Looking Ahead
Our next event will likely be the first week of March, to mark the second anniversary of the Project. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime we are going to continue to speak, write, and teach. We hope to involve more voices, reach more students, and persuade more journalists, scholars, students - and practitioners - that the ethics of how we make our case matters. To keep up with latest, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
If you have an idea for the Project, links we should add to our website, know people we should talk to, or if you would like us to speak to your class or organization let me know.
Be well,
Peter
Peter Loge
Director, Project on Ethics in Political Communication