With information overwhelming social media users, it’s important for media organizations to ensure their audience can trust their reporting. Questions like, “How do people decide what news is trustworthy?” or “How can journalists influence what users consume and share?” have come up repeatedly at public forums that WITF journalists have participated in.
To help answer those questions, WITF is took part in the Trusting News project – an effort to create strategies designed to demonstrate the credibility and trustworthiness of journalism. In the links above, we explain our editorial process, we demonstrate our approach to ensure our stories are as balanced, accessible and responsive as possible, and we describe our ethics and funding.
The days of journalism’s one-way street of simply producing stories for the public have long been over. Now, it’s time to find better ways to interact with you and ensure we meet your high standards of what a credible media organization should be.
News Coverage
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AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File
Preventable disease measles cases triple in Pa. since July
The outbreak is fueled by low vaccination rates, while the state races to protect thousands. -
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File
Coroner releases details of infants who died amid growing Pennsylvania measles outbreak
A Pennsylvania coroner confirms that the two measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania last month involved infants, and the virus itself caused one of the deaths.By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press -
Haley O’Brien
‘Everyone has a story.’ Remembering service, sacrifice on 25th anniversary of 9-11
On the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the memories of 9/11 are vivid for those who were there. But as the youngest generation exists without their own recollection of the attacks, ceremonies that honor the lives lost — and altered — now also serve to educate the next generation.
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Courtesy of the Abolitionist Law Center
Lifers ask Pa. Supreme Court to open pathway for resentencing after lawmakers fail to act
A previous ruling means people charged with second-degree murder no longer face mandatory life-without-parole sentences. That doesn’t apply to people already sentenced.By Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA -
Tim Lambert
Keeping the story of Flight 93 alive, as living memories become fewer
How is the legacy of the passengers and crew who fought back taught to new generations?By Peter Hall, Pennsylvania Capital-Star -
Nate Langston Palmer for NPR
They cleaned up ground zero. Now many are hiding from ICE
After 9/11, thousands of rescue and cleanup crews went to work at ground zero. They were exposed to toxic debris and experienced psychological trauma. Today, many say they live in fear of deportation.
By Jasmine Garsd, NPR -
Why So Few Young Pennsylvanians Are Registered to Vote
By Asia Tabb -
Haley O’Brien
‘Not sufficient to comply’: Pa. State Police share rules on skill games ahead of deadline
Pennsylvania businesses have a month to return skill games to vendors or be “subject to criminal prosecution and immediate seizure of machines,” according to a statement by state police.
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Haley O’Brien
City of Lebanon to restrict e-bikes at parks, downtown
Lebanon City Council will vote to pass two ordinances that would limit the use of e-bikes and similar vehicles in the downtown area and at city parks. -
Emily Reddy / WPSU
FCC approves Penn State sale of WPSU to WHYY
After a yet-to-be-decided closing date, WHYY will operate the television and radio stations under the existing WPSU name and call letters.By Emily Reddy, WPSU -
AP Photo/David Goldman, File
Pa. lawmakers eye limits, outright ban on Flock cameras as they prepare for fall return
Gov. Josh Shapiro is working with lawmakers “on what piece of legislation could make it to” his desk that protects people’s privacy.By Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA -
Justin Sullivan
After Trump promised to pay $5,000 if Republicans win, here’s what to expect at Thursday’s midterm Republican convention
President Trump promised to send every adult citizen $5,000, but only if Republicans maintain control of Congress in the midterm election, setting high expectations for the convention’s final night.
By Tamara Keith, NPR -
Alex Brandon/AP Photo
Democratic Sen. Fetterman speaks at a GOP midterm convention, fueling party-switch fears
By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press -
Kriston Jae Bethel, Votebeat
Pa.’s top election official challenges Trump administration claims, efforts to alter elections
Pennsylvania’s top election official says the federal government is trying to illegally change election rules and says one of his biggest concerns is the spread of false information about voting.
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Steven Senne
Youth vaping is declining. Central Pa. schools are seeing the trend, too
The rate of middle and high school students who vape is declining across the United States, with Central Pennsylvanian districts and experts seeing similar trends.
WITF’s political coverage will be biased toward two things: democracy and facts. We’ll create a citizens’ agenda of issues you want candidates to discuss, and base our coverage on those issues, not on candidates. We will be transparent and make decisions thoughtfully. We will center democracy in our coverage, so you’ll know when it’s being threatened or supported. We will avoid horse-race coverage. We will report facts to counter spreaders of mis- and disinformation. We will speak truth to power and follow the facts wherever they go.
The Morning Agenda – a podcast from WITF
Each weekday morning, The Morning Agenda will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.