MacNeil/Lehrer Journalism

Transcribed from this evening's broadcast of the Newshour, here are Jim Lehrer's guidelines for journalism:

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

I truly believe the United States would be a better country if a larger percentage of the news sources would be able to adhere to these guidelines.

Jim, I hope you will stay around with Newshour for many more years to come!