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The Journalist's Creed
was written by the first dean of the |
I believe in the profession of
journalism.
I believe that the public
journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure
of their responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of a lesser
service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.
I believe that clear thinking
and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.
I believe that a journalist
should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.
I believe that suppression of
the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is
indefensible.
I believe that no one should
write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by
one's own pocketbook is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of
another; that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading
another's instructions or another's dividends.
I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best
interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness
should prevail for all; that the supreme test of good journalism is the measure
of its public service.
I believe that
the journalism which succeeds best—and best deserves success—fears God and
honors Man; is stoutly independent, unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of
power, constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient,
always respectful of its readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at
injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of privilege or
the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance and, as far as law and
honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal
chance; is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good
will and cementing world-comradeship; is a journalism of humanity, of and for
today's world.