Itisremarkablehowmanyjournalistsembracetheprinciplesofpublicjournalismbutfailtorecognizetheimportanceofapplyingthoseprinciplestojournalismitself.Whilethepressstandsreadytoexpandtheopportunitiesforpublicdebatebyinvitingeveryonetoparticipate,journaliststypicallyexemptthemselvesbydeclininginvitationsothersareexpectedtoaccept.Ifindeedthepressplaysavitallyimportantroleincreatingandmaintainingtheconditionsforselfgovernance,asjournalistsclaimwhenevertheyraisethebannerofpublicjournalism,thepressneedstoassumeresponsibilityfor-andinvitecommentayon-thequalityofitsperformanceandtheintegrityofitspractices.Inshort,thepressneedstorecognizeitselfasadistinctivelypublicinstitutionboundbythesamestandardsofaccountabilityexpectedofotherpublicinstitutions.