The Civil Ideal of the News

When the news, in its reporting, adheres to the civil ideal, it represents news that is accurate, sincere, objective, subject to editorial integrity and committed to truth telling and treats its audience as comprising of citizens who matter. It recognises the diversity of incommensurate (though not necessarily incompatible) views and values that exist in civil society, whilst also recognising its duty to be homologous with the world. It is this kind of news that generates trust and enables the promotion of the civil values of social criticism, democratic integration, civility, justice, reciprocity and mutual respect. The civil ideal of the news has a normative force that influences, shapes or reinforces preferences, choices, values, opinions and above all civil norms.