Off the Record | Big names, controversy steer 2014 media buzz

If there were a theme for the story topics that dominated media ethics talk this year, we might call it "The Year of the Celebrity."

Public opinion took on Bill Cosby.TMZ zoomed in on Ray Rice. George Clooney took on Daily Mail while Shonda Rhimes took on The New York Times. And Kim Kardashian? Well, she took off more than she took on.

In our final Off the Record media ethics audio program for 2014, USA TODAY journalists discuss the most interesting 2014 events that triggered conversations about story treatment.

Our Top 10 topics for 2014 (in no special order):

1. Sony reels from hack job: As a major hack at the TV and film studio uncovers personal and embarrassing data about how Hollywood's elite do business, newsrooms discuss where to draw line on what information is of most value to readers.

2. Less is more (clicks): Reality star Kim Kardashian's decision to bare all in a photo shoot for Paper magazine draws more clicks — and scrutiny over level of taste and dosage best suited for public consumption.

3. Outbreak of Ebola — and fear: Ebola finds its way to the United States, and newsrooms engage in a public debate about whether stories about the deadly virus mostly hype up anxiety or largely help understanding.

4. Ferguson divides a nation: A shooting death of a black teen by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., place added scrutiny — and lively debates — on story treatment against a backdrop of mounting racial tensions.

5. Spotlight on rape: Resurfaced allegations against comedian Bill Cosby and a mishandled Rolling Stone article about an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia remind us of the pitfalls to watch for in covering rape.

6. Caught on tape: TMZ's released audio of Clippers owner Donald Sterling and video footage of ex Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice spark much-needed national conversations about race relations and domestic violence — and give the gossip site a score on snapping up two of the year's biggest scoops.

7. Power of visual images: ISIL beheadings out of the Middle East showcases tough calls on story treatment that come with display of graphic images.

8. Big names take on big media: Hollywood actor George Clooney's public rebuke of Daily Mail highlights risks involved when inflammatory information by anonymous sources is used in coverage. And television producer Shonda Rhimes' swipe against The New York Times on Twitter for its "angry black woman" description turns heads to the importance of newsroom diversity — and power of social media.

9. A fair farewell? Extensive coverage of Robin Williams' tragic death prompts discussion about how his tribute compares to other stars we lost this year.

10. Salute to industry giants: The deaths of two iconic champions of First Amendment freedoms, former Washington Post Executive Editor Ben Bradlee and former Tennessean editor and publisher John Seigenthaler, who also was a founding editor of USA TODAY's editorial pages, remind journalists around the country of why we got into this business.

If you wish to comment on this discussion or other Off the Record programs, email letters@usatoday.com or nudge the show's host, Standards & Ethics Editor Brent W. Jones, on Twitter: @tweetbrentjones.