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Standards of Quality Journalism

Outlets which offer quality journalism adhere to the following standards:

• Operating independently of government and special interests

• Considering the ethical implications of their work

• Minimizing harm

• Avoiding conflicts of interest and disclosing them if they are present

• Being honest, accurate, and fair

• Verifying information before publication

• Providing fair context without oversimplifying or misrepresenting

• Identifying sources of information and giving as much information about them as possible

• Allowing subjects of stories to respond to accusations

• Always attributing and providing citations/links where appropriate

• Labeling advocacy and commentary

• Updating stories as they evolve

• Fixing mistakes as quickly as possible

• Striving to be as transparent as possible

• Explaining difficult decisions and procedures

• Serving the public and holding those in power accountable

How Journalists Get to the Facts

Quality news media outlets are committed to reporting the facts without injecting opinion into news content. They serve the public by providing a forum for the discussion of public issues based on balanced analyses of facts and informed opinions.

In reputable journalism, there are multiple layers of fact-checking and quality control to ensure accuracy.

Journalists verify facts by sorting through official documents, as well as identifying as many knowledgeable and reliable sources who provide factually-based details, in order to connect the dots in a story for you.

Content editors then assess the structure, completeness, and overall quality of stories.

Then, copy editors or line editors verify a variety of story details such as (but not exclusive to) assertions, quotations, statistics, historical details, names, ages, job titles, locations, informational graphics, time references, distances, and more.

In the words of former Chicago Tribune editor Michael A. Deas, newspaper editors “cross-examine the story like a prosecuting attorney, vet all sources, and try to discredit the content.” Only when a story can stand up to such scrutiny does it make it to print.

Read more about the work that journalists do here.