Quick Guide: Accountability for journalists

Every editorial decision is a test of accountability. Use this checklist to assess your reasoning before you publish or broadcast a news story.

Accountability is not a single decision made after something goes wrong. It is a discipline applied at every stage of the news production process – from your first editorial choice to how you handle a correction.

This quick guide is based on the article Accountability for journalists, which we recommend you read before applying the checklist below.

How to hold yourself accountable for every story

• [ ] Explain your decisions: Can you say why you chose this angle, these voices, and this framing? If you cannot explain a decision, that is your first problem.
  
• [ ] Ask who the story serves: Who does it involve, and who does it serve? Who have you included, and who have you left out – and why?
  
• [ ] Report only what you know: Do not fill gaps with guesswork. If sources contradict each other, report both claims, describe what you saw, and be honest about what you cannot verify.
  
• [ ] Separate observation from assumption: In breaking news, describe only what you can see and confirm. Personal experience and unconscious bias can distort what you think you are witnessing.
  
• [ ] Go beyond official sources: Statements from management, politicians, and institutions are never the whole story. Accountability to your audience sometimes means seeking out the people who official sources leave silent.
  
• [ ] Be transparent about your methods: If your newsgathering involves risk – legal, physical, or ethical – be prepared to explain how you got the story and why, not just what it contains.
  
• [ ] Refer up when it matters: If a decision carries significant legal or ethical risk, do not make it alone. Involve your editor, seek legal advice if necessary, and document your reasoning.
  
• [ ] Put people before the story: When human life or wellbeing is at risk, being first is not the priority. No reputable editor will tell you otherwise.
  
• [ ] Correct mistakes clearly and quickly: A correction should be as prominent as the original error, as prompt as possible, and explicit about what was wrong and what is right.
  
• [ ] Ask the final question: Could you defend every decision you made – to your editor, to the people you reported on, to your audience, and to yourself?

Accountability is not about playing it safe. It’s about being able to justify every decision you make before you make it, not after. That discipline, applied consistently, is what separates responsible journalism from journalism that simply avoids scrutiny.

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Accountability for journalists