ProPublica ·Behind the news
Why We Changed Our Code of Ethics to Address Prediction Markets
by Diego Sorbara
Published 2026-06-15 09:00:00+00:00
Can a reader trust the news if the person reporting it has money riding on the outcome?
0:00 / 6:22 · Narrator Rasalgethi
Context
Published earlier this week, this ProPublica piece considers the friction between the growth of prediction markets and the traditional standards of investigative journalism. As platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket move from the fringes into mainstream media partnerships, the question of whether a reporter can remain neutral while holding a financial stake in the outcome becomes increasingly unavoidable. These specific policy changes—shared on June 15—frame the new boundaries as a necessary response to an environment where almost any news event can now be turned into a wager.