Editorial independence

Editorial independence is the ability of journalists and editors to make publication decisions without improper outside control. It protects editorial judgment from interference by owners, governments, advertisers, and other powerful interests.

Editorial charter: A formal agreement defining a newsroom’s editorial authority, responsibilities, and relationship with its owner. It can set enforceable boundaries between ownership and publication decisions.
Freedom of the press: The principle that media should be able to publish information and opinions without government restraint. It is the broader public and legal freedom within which editorial independence operates.
Investigative journalism: In-depth reporting that uncovers facts of public interest, often involving concealed wrongdoing or abuses of power. Investigations often depend on resisting pressure from the subjects they scrutinize.
The Washington Post: An American newspaper founded in 1877 and known for national political reporting. Its Watergate coverage illustrates the impact of publishing against powerful political interests.
Media concentration: The consolidation of media ownership or audience share among a small number of organizations. Fewer independent owners can reduce the range of editorial choices available.
Newsroom: The organizational setting where journalists gather, verify, edit, and publish news. Its roles and reporting lines determine who can influence editorial decisions.
Journalistic objectivity: A reporting ideal that emphasizes accuracy, fairness, and separation of fact from opinion. Independence concerns control over decisions, not whether reporting is objective.
Watchdog journalism: Reporting that monitors powerful institutions and holds them accountable to the public. Its scrutiny is difficult to sustain when those institutions control publication.
Watergate scandal: A political scandal arising from the 1972 break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters and its cover-up. The investigation tested whether a newsroom would continue reporting under political pressure.
Advertiser influence: The effect of advertising clients’ commercial interests on media content or publication decisions. It raises the question of how a newsroom can resist pressure tied to revenue.

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