The Foundation of American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE)

Founded in 1922 as a nonprofit professional organization, ASNE promotes fair, principled journalism, defends and protects First Amendment rights, and fights for freedom of information and open government. A year later, the society issued a code of ethics, formalizing a growing consensus within the industry about the need for self-restraint. Among the ASNE “canons” were “Freedom from all obligations except that of fidelity to the public interest is vital” and “By every consideration of good faith a newspaper is constrained to be truthful.” The journalistic ethics, whereby accuracy, balance, and independence are held as gospel, was becoming entrenched.

Nelson, Heming. 1998. “A HISTORY OF NEWSPAPER: GUTENBERG’S PRESS STARTED A REVOLUTION.” Washington Post, February 11, 1998. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/1998/02/11/a-history-of-newspaper-gutenbergs-press-started-a-revolution/2e95875c-313e-4b5c-9807-8bcb031257ad/.