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Listed below are a sampling of mission statements, values and pledges made by various news outlets and groups. They tell citizens what the organizations strive for and provide a standard by which citizens can judge them.

If you are a journalist and would like to add your organization's code to this list please email us at ccj@concernedjournalists.org.

AOL Time Warner
Gannett
Knight Ridder
New York Times
Tribune Company
Washington Post

AOL Time Warner

Our Mission
To become the world's most respected and valued company by connecting, informing and entertaining people everywhere in innovative ways that will enrich their lives.

Our Values
Creativity We thrive on innovation and originality-encouraging risk-taking and divergent voices.

Customer Focus
We value our customers-putting their needs and interests at the center of everything we do.

Agility
We move quickly-embracing change and seizing new opportunities.
Teamwork We treat one another with respect-creating value by working together within and across our businesses.

Integrity
We rigorously uphold editorial independence and artistic expression-earning the trust of our readers, viewers, listeners, members and subscribers.

Diversity
We attract and develop the world's best talent-seeking to include the broadest range of people and perspectives.

Responsibility
We work to improve our communities-taking pride in serving the public interest as well as the interests of our shareholders.

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Gannett

Operating Principles

• Respect and protect the First Amendment.
  
• Provide effective leadership and efficient management.
  
• Raise the standards and enhance the credibility of our products, because quality ultimately leads to higher profits.
  
• Deliver customer satisfaction and expand our customer base.
  
• Achieve a positive return on new and acquired products and properties in a reasonable period of time, while recognizing those with high growth potential may take more time.
  
• Dispose of assets that have limited potential or when the disposition is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.
  
• Increase profitability and return on equity and investment over the long term.
  
• Respect and be fair to employees, our smartest investments.
  
• Offer a diverse environment where opportunity is based on merit.
  
• Serve the communities in which we do business.

Knight Ridder

To assure that Knight Ridder remains a landmark company whose social contributions and corporate prosperity withstand the test of time, we are pledged to provide enduring value to our customers, people, shareholders and communities. Our future rests with all of you.

Therefore, we make these promises...

To Our Customers...
We promise to be passionate about serving you. To our readers, we promise content that matters to your daily lives - honest, fair, interesting and useful news, information and advertising. To our advertisers, we promise reach and results to help you succeed.

To Our People...
We promise to help you develop, to show you respect, to reward you fairly, to provide a workplace in which individual differences are valued. We promise the opportunity to contribute to an ennobling enterprise that is dedicated to preserving the vigor of our democracy.

To Our Shareholders...
We promise an attractive return that is competitive with peer companies, and a commitment to sound financial practices, consistent economic growth and innovative responses to market opportunities.

To Our Communities...
We promise to foster economic and social health through good citizenship, through volunteer and financial support for causes that enhance the community's quality of life, and by providing valuable news, information and advertising to the citizens we serve.

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The New York Times Company

Mission and Values
Our diversity notwithstanding, our workforce shares a common commitment that unites our people and businesses together and sets us apart from our competitors. We call our beliefs our Core Purpose and Core Values.

Our Core Purpose
Enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high quality news, information and entertainment.

Our Core Values

• Content of the highest quality and integrity--This is the basis for our reputation and the means by which we fulfill the public trust and our customers' expectations.
  
• Fair treatment of employees based on respect, accountability and standards of
  
• Creating long-term shareholder value through investment and constancy of purpose.
  
• Good corporate citizenship.

Tribune Company

Mission
Build businesses that inform and entertain our customers in the ways, places and at the times they want.

Values
Strong values have been part of Tribune since the company's founding in 1847. These are the eight fundamental principles that guide our actions every day:

• Citizenship
  
• Customer Satisfaction
  
• Diversity
  
• Employee Involvement
  
• Financial Strength
  
• Innovation
  
• Integrity
  
• Teamwork

The Washington Post Company

Goals

1. To produce the best newspapers, magazines, television programs, and other products we can.
   
2. To run an outstanding business, measured by the increase in intrinsic shareholder value over time.
   
3. To be not just a good, but an exceptional place for people to work, and a leader in the hiring and promotion of minorities and women.
   
4. To be a company that provides outstanding customer service.
   
5. To be creative, adaptive, flexible, and intelligent enough to adapt to the changes in our business environment.
   
6. To be a respected part of the communities where we do business.