The theme of this work is assessment, reporting and accountability. These three aspects of literacy assessment do not always sit comfortably together. The author's work is an extensive coverage of the interrelationship between such issues as the following: the public face of literacy assessment as portrayed in the media - a face that does not always reflect the reality of a complex process; and the needs of the diverse range of stakeholders involved in student assessment (students, parents, tax payers and politicians). The conclusion highlights the need for balance and diversity in a literacy assessment program.