The Center for Integrity in News Reporting (CFINR) is a national initiative committed to restoring public trust in the media by promoting fairness, objectivity and transparency in journalism. Its mission is to reduce bias in news reporting and encourage journalistic practices that are both ethical and credible.
What CFINR does: CFINR takes a comprehensive, proactive approach to strengthening journalistic integrity by:
- Recognizing Excellence: Hosting a national journalism contest to reward outstanding examples of impartial and objective reporting across print, broadcast, cable, digital and White House press coverage.
- Educating Future Journalists: Partnering with distinguished journalists to guest lecture at journalism schools, teaching students the value of unbiased reporting.
- Promoting Core Values: Encouraging all media organizations' newsrooms and university journalism programs to adopt and prominently display clear, concise statements of journalistic values to enhance transparency and accountability.
- Engaging the Public: Urging audiences to support news organizations that commit to integrity through subscriptions, donations and advocacy.
- Strategic Focus: CFINR is concentrating efforts on mid-sized U.S. media markets (NAB ranks 25-75), where it engages directly with news organizations and local civic groups to advocate for visible commitments to journalistic principles.
- Public Recognition: News organizations that adopt and clearly display a concise (under 250 words) statement of core journalistic values are officially recognized on the CFINR website, with listings organized by state and updated regularly.
Rufus Friday is executive director and can be reached at rfriday@cfinr.org.
View the Center for Integrity in News Reporting's listing in the America's Newspapers Solutions Directory
View a recent E&P vodcast featuring the Center for Integrity in News Reporting:
What if every newsroom in America posted its journalistic values where everyone could see them? That’s the bold vision behind the Center for Integrity in News Reporting (CFINR), founded by Walter Hussman — legendary publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and chairman of WEHCO Media — and led by Executive Director Rufus Friday. Their mission is as ambitious as it is urgent: rebuild public trust in journalism by making transparency impossible to ignore. In this conversation, they reveal how a simple statement of values could transform how audiences see — and support — the news.
Welcome to membership!
