Betting on the news raises ethical questions for journalists

As prediction markets put a price on news outcomes, newsrooms are rethinking whether staff should be allowed to bet on them.

ProPublica has tightened its ethics policy to ban employees from wagering on prediction markets tied to news events.

The rule applies to both editorial and business staff, while still allowing limited gambling like office pools or unrelated legal sports betting.

The broader concern is conflict of interest: prediction markets can create financial incentives that influence reporting and newsroom judgment.