So-called news communications from private sources should not be published without public notice of their source or else substantiation of their claims to value as news, both in form and substance. Good faith with the reader is the foundation of all journalism worthy of the name. By every consideration of good faith a newspaper is constrained to be truthful. It is not to be excused for lack of thoroughness or accuracy within its control or failure to obtain command of these essential qualities. Headlines should be fully warranted by the contents of the articles which they surmount.
Sound practice makes clear distinction between news reports and expressions of opinion.
News reports should be free from opinion or bias of any kind. This rule does not apply to so-called special articles unmistakably devoted to advocacy or characterized by a signature authorizing the writer's own conclusions and interpretations. A newspaper should not invade private rights or feelings without sure warrant of public right as distinguished from public curiosity. It is the privilege, as it is the duty, of a newspaper to make prompt and complete corrections of its own serious mistakes of fact or opinion, whatever their origin. A newspaper cannot escape conviction of insincerity if while profession high moral purpose it supplies incentives to base conduct, such as are to be found in details or crimes and vice, publication of which is not demonstrably in the general good.