In a time of record-low confidence in the press, Stars and Stripes, the military community’s independent news organization, embraced impartiality and transparency, offering a replicable path for every newsroom.
Public trust in news is at a half-century low. Gallup’s 2024 survey found only 31% of Americans say they have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in mass media, and 36% say they have no trust at all, a first in the poll’s history. Internationally, the U.S. ranks at the bottom for media trust in a Reuters Institute study, at 29%.
This decline underscores why visible public standards matter. As journalist Steve Herman noted in his recent keynote speech at the 80th anniversary of the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, affirming independence and values is not just symbolic — it is essential for sustaining democracy and demonstrating that American journalism remains independent of partisan control.
This summer, Stars and Stripes formally adopted and published a concise Statement of Core Values, becoming the first national news outlet to align publicly with the principles the Center for Integrity in News Reporting (CFINR) promotes for rebuilding trust. The values emphasize impartial reporting, disciplined verification, prompt corrections and a strict separation of news and opinion.
The paper’s Ombudsman explained the move as meeting readers where they are, by showing the basis for trust rather than merely asking for it. She urged that the Core Values be featured prominently as a pledge to readers, calling the effort a defining moment for the newsroom.
At the heart of the statement is a simple premise: impartiality is the engine of credibility and truth-telling is journalism’s core mission. The document spells out that journalists must report all verifiable facts as completely and impartially as possible; follow stories wherever they lead; correct errors promptly; and keep a clear, public wall between reporting and opinion.
The Center for Integrity in News Reporting advocates reducing bias in news reporting and champions efforts to rebuild public trust. The Center partners with newsrooms to adopt and publicly display a clear, 250-words-or-less statement of core journalistic values, recognizes outlets that do so, and elevates examples for others to follow. It also honors excellence in impartial reporting with $25,000 awards across multiple categories.
Trust isn’t rebuilt by rhetoric. It’s rebuilt by visible standards and day-to-day decisions that readers can see and understand. Posting a values statement, separating news and opinion, and correcting errors promptly are practical steps any newsroom can adopt now.
