The Book That Every Citizen and Journalist Should Read "What this book does better than any single book on media history ethics or practice is weave . . . [together] why media audiences have fled and why new technology and megacorporate ownership are putting good journalism at risk." --Rasmi Simhan "Boston Globe" "Kovach and Rosenstiel's essays on each [element] are concise gems filled with insights worthy of becoming axiomatic. . . . The book should become essential reading for journalism professionals and students and for the citizens they aim to serve." --Carl Sessions Stepp "American Journalism Review" "If you think journalists have no idea what you want . . . here is a book that agrees with you. Better--it has solutions. The Elements of Journalism is written for journalists but any citizen who wonders why the news seems trivial or uninspiring should read it." --Marta Salij "Detroit Free Press" The elements of journalism are: * Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.* Its first loyalty is to citizens.* Its essence is a discipline of verification.* Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.* It must serve as an independent monitor of power.* It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.* It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.* It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.* Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.