In the book The Elements of Journalism, Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel stated nine elements of journalism. As said, to fulfill their duty of providing the audience with the information, journalists need to be 'free and self-governing'. They must follow these guidelines that act as the elements of journalism:

1. Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to the citizens.
3. Its essence is 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 news significant, interesting, and relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.

In the April 2007 edition of the book, they added the last element, the rights and responsibilities of citizens to make it a total of 10 elements of journalism, according to the wikipedia.