Ethics Hold ‘em Takes Its Talents to FAU

School newspaper hosts poker game to teach students about ethics

Why tell kids what ethics are when you can simply teach them through poker?

Students at Florida Atlantic University’s school newspaper, the University Press, hosted its first Ethics Hold ‘em on July 6. While promoting their new glossy magazine-style newspaper and newly minted logo, Editor-in-Chief Ryan Cortes said he also wanted students to learn what SPJ’s code of ethics is and why it is important to journalism.

Ethics Hold ‘em was created in 2007 with SPJ’s national ethics grant. Game creator Michael Koretzky said special decks were made with ethics on the faces of the cards. “If you find a match while playing, you win extra chips,” he said. “So in this case, greed is not only good, it’s ethical.”

Koretzky, Region 3 Director and South Florida Pro Immediate Past President, has organized Ethics Hold ‘em games throughout the country since its inception at a Dave & Buster’s 5 years ago.

National Student Board Representative Gideon Grudo was on hand as a dealer of Ethics Hold ‘em, saying it’s not only a great way to promote SPJ, but to also educate students in a fun way.

“I know a program like this works when a radio jockey tells me after the game that he’d do it again, and that he actually felt he learned a thing or two about his responsibilities.”