ABSTRACT
Journalism is the only occupation specifically protected in the U.S. Constitution; it isn’t licensed or regulated like medicine or the law, but like those professions it also carries a sense of responsibility and obligation to a greater good that sets it apart from a simple trade. It requires professional practitioners who understand journalism’s importance to our democratic society, who believe in and are committed to its core values, and who can put those values into action. The best journalists are passionate about their work and see it as a calling. They believe they can help make things better for the people they write about and the people they write for. Chapter 1 summarizes the essential principles and practices that young journalists need to develop to produce consequential work in the 21st century. Succeeding chapters explain the principles and practices in depth.
