The Presbyterian News Service (PNS) is the official news agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Its job is to gather and disseminate news and information about the denomination and its work to church members, church officials, religious and secular media and the public.

PNS is a news agency, not a public relations or promotional entity. As such it has editorial freedom to report fully and fairly on all aspects of the church, both good and bad. Such independence is essential if the church is to have a credible source of news and information for its members and others who care about its work. With this freedom comes responsibility to work in accordance with journalistic standards of accuracy and fairness.

Under editorial guidelines adopted by the General Assembly Council, PNS fulfills its mission and purpose by:

• Reporting the facts accurately, clearly, fairly, impartially and promptly
• Responding to requests and inquiries about the church with accuracy, impartiality and promptness
• Displaying responsibility, competence and sound judgment
• Maintaining concern for the personal dignity of all sources and contacts
• Presenting the facts without interference, manipulation, encumbrance or retribution
• Insisting that open meeting policies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) be upheld
• Adhering to the Statement of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice of the Associated Church Press.

Theological Statement

Through the Bible, the cornerstone of our faith, we know the stories of God's efforts to communicate with creation and of creation's response. God communicates through rainbows and burning bush, through earthquakes and fire, and through the still small voice. Jesus, as the Word Incarnate, is God's fullest communication with creation. The work of God's Spirit is communicated in the revelation of God's presence with humanity in all times and places.

Today, as we seek to hear and respond to God's Word, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) declares the reality of the grace of God to its members through word, sacrament and deed, and to the whole world through its testimony. We pray that God will speak through us as we tell new stories of the faith, life and mission found in Christ's church. We pray that the communications of our church will be a constant reflection of God's love.

Mission Statement

The Presbyterian News Service shall freely and openly meet the challenges of communicating the faith, life and mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to its members and to the world.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Presbyterian News Service is to seek and to tell the truth. It shall do so by gathering and disseminating news of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with economy, efficiency and as completely as human endeavor allows.

The Presbyterian News Service shall operate with freedom and integrity.

Freedom is foundational, though fragile. Editorial freedom is particularly imperative in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), where honesty and openness are highly valued. Beyond its ethical importance, the need for editorial freedom must be widely understood and vigorously upheld.

Integrity depends upon a high degree of professionalism among the news staff and those who oversee it. While the primary sources of the news service are the church's national level ministries, its primary constituents are members of the church. Operating with integrity creates trust, which cannot be conferred but must be earned.

The freedom granted to the Presbyterian News Service, and the integrity required of it, must be guaranteed if the church's members are to have confidence in the news they receive. To meet these responsibilities adequately, the Presbyterian News Service must be able to function without censorship or other limitations, immediate or potential, expressed or implied.

1. To fulfill this mission and purpose, the Presbyterian News Service shall:
2. Report the facts accurately, clearly, fairly, impartially and promptly to the church's members and to the world through appropriate media.
3. Respond to requests and inquiries about the church with accuracy, clarity, fairness, impartiality and promptness.
4. Carry out its work with faithfulness to the church of which it is a part.
5. Display responsibility, competence and sound judgment.
6. Maintain concern for the personal dignity of all sources and contacts.
7. Present the facts without interference, manipulation, encumbrance or retribution.
8. Exercise particular care that opinion writing does not compromise professional integrity.
9. Insist that the open meeting policy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) be upheld.
10. Adhere to the Statement of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice of the Associated Church Press.
    
    Adopted by the General Assembly Council June 14, 1995

• Write editorials
• Accept any advertising
• Publish letters to the editor