Vickie Holbrook: A Truly Exceptional Idaho Journalist Moves on But Still Contributes

by Michael Strickland

The former managing editor of the Idaho Press Tribune is a walking embodiment of journalism's best practices.

1. Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth

2. Its first loyalty is to citizens

3. Its essence is a discipline of verification

4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover

5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power

6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise

7. It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant

8. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional

9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience
-Pew Research Journalism Project, "Principles of Journalism"

With media outlets downsizing like crazy; amidst the growing influence of large corporations in the dissemination of information; and with so many TV comedians disguised as pundits and others blurring the lines between entertainment and news (with many people considering such messages to be "news") -- there is a discussion about whether journalism will even exist in a few years.