ABSTRACT
The United States of America has a distinctive approach to media accountability that reflects a generally libertarian political culture and laissez-faire economic framework. This context shapes an approach to accountability that instead emphasizes the primacy of journalistic autonomy. A variety of accountability mechanisms – some internal to journalism (i.e., those organized by journalists themselves) and some external (i.e., those organized by non-journalists) – exist, though their efficacy and ideational purchase within journalism is, generally, weak.
