1.Journalists are not lawyers in a court of law trying to prove a case or activists campaigning for a cause. Our job is to seek the truth no matter what and follow the facts wherever they lead us regardless of political outcomes or consequences.
2.It is not the role of a journalist to decide what people should think. Our duty is to search for the whole truth and communicate accurately and honestly so the audience or reader can make up their own mind.
3.Thou shalt not mislead, deceive or lie…to yourself or to the public.
4.Question everything. Only the truth stands up to questioning.
5.Two first-hand sources are the holy grail - always better than indirect or single sources.
6.Be as skeptical of those you like and agree with as you are of those you neither like nor trust.
7.Opinion and analysis have a worthy place in journalism but are not fact and should not be presented as such.
8.Never underestimate the audience. People are not dumb - despite what many in the media think and lack of familiarity with a subject should not be confused with stupidity.
9.Be honest with yourself and aware of your own bias. No one is immune.
10.Anonymity has an important place in protecting sources for valid reasons. It should not be used as cover for political, corrupt or nefarious purposes and it is up to us to be guardians of our craft.

Without integrity and basic principles that protect us from our own opinions and bias, journalism is reduced to a tool of information warfare and little more. Out of the ashes, propaganda and disinformation rise to dominate the media landscape, bury the truth and threaten us all. Social media, podcasts & independent journalists are not immune.