PBS NewsHour - NewsHour Editorial Guidelines

NewsHour Editorial Guidelines

On December 4, 2009, when introducing the new PBS NewsHour format, Jim Lehrer read out a list of guidelines in what he referred to as "MacNeil / Lehrer journalism." They are as follows:

• "Do nothing I cannot defend.
• "Cover, write, and present every story with the care I would want if the story were about me.
• "Assume there is at least one other side or version to every story.
• "Assume the viewer is as smart and as caring and as good a person as I am.
• "Assume the same about all people on whom I report.
• "Assume personal lives are a private matter until a legitimate turn in the story absolutely mandates otherwise.
• "Carefully separate opinion and analysis from straight news stories, and clearly label everything.
• "Do not use anonymous sources or blind quotes except on rare and monumental occasions.
• "No one should ever be allowed to attack another anonymously.
• "And finally, I am not in the entertainment business."