10 sets of questions journalists should ask themselves

 (1) What do I know? What do I need to know?

(2) What is my journalistic purpose? 

(3) What are my ethical concerns? 

(4) What organizational policies and professional guidelines should I consider? 

(5) Can I include other people, with different perspectives and diverse ideas, in the decision-making process? 

(6) Who are the stakeholders—those affected by my decision? What are their motivations? Which are legitimate?

(7) What if the roles were reversed? How would I feel if I were in the shoes of one of the stakeholders?

(8) What are the possible consequences of my actions? Short-term? Long-term? 

(9) What are my alternatives to maximize my truth-telling responsibility and minimize harm? 

(10) Can I clearly and fully justify my thinking and my decision? To my colleagues? To the stakeholders? To the public?

Reference:

Shoemaker, P. J. & Reese, S. D. (1996, p.100-101). Mediating The Message: Theories of Influences on Mass Media Content. USA: Longman.