Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other. At least when they get caught.

Journalists should:

• Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
• Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
• Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
• Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
• The NY Times’ Editor Bill Keller’s mia culpa after the Iraq invasion

 from the Society of Professional Journalists (1973)