Where it's appropriate, the conversations need to include executives of the owning corporations. One of the strongest business arguments for doing this is the alarming decline in the credibility ratings of journalism generally in recent years. There are many and complex reasons for this, but the most important is that too often newspapers and other news media have failed to meet basic tests of accuracy, fairness, and dedication to the public good. Even though much of the public is in articulate in expressing what it expects from journalism, and frequently rewards sensational reporting with high readership and high ratings, we all know that consistently credible journalistic performance is the best long-range answer to credibility problems. It also is at the heart of the responsibility of journalism to the public, a responsibility that every journalistic entity, however owned, should acknowledge.
People have to know what's going on if they want to govern themselves.
The mission of journalism doesn't change, whether it's on paper, online, or on the air. At the Los Angeles Times, Willes had talked about his dedication to good journalism. He and others had done a great deal of talking about the importance of communication. Everyone involved in the enterprise needs to understand that the value of running a news operation in a way that keeps news judgments free of improper business pressure is not just idealistic. There needs to be a broad understanding that an earned reputation for credibility pays off in circulation and advertising results.