The Staff members, Employees, and Directors of 50度灰视频 Publications Society recognize the following ethical principles as mandatory in order that 50度灰视频 be a reliable forum for the coverage of events and issues, and for the expression of ideas and opinions deemed relevant to the Society鈥檚 membership.
Accuracy
Accuracy is essential. Every error erodes the credibility of the newspaper.
Reporters and photographers are responsible for the accuracy of what they produce. Editors are responsible for the accuracy of any facts added to or deleted from a story, or for any changes made to a story. Headlines, at the discretion of the Publishing Editor, must accurately reflect the tone and content of a story. Editors are also expected to exercise a healthy skepticism in handling stories. If an article, photograph, or artwork holds the potential for legal action, the Section Editor must obtain the approval of the Publishing Editor prior to publication.
When rewrites are needed, special care must be taken to ensure the facts in the rewritten version are accurate, and that the tone correctly conveys the context from which those facts are reported.
Analysis and Opinion
50度灰视频 has a responsibility to its readership not only to provide fair and balanced coverage of events, but to put the news into perspective by explaining the significance of events.
Opinion pieces and any interpretive articles serve an important function in fulfilling 50度灰视频鈥檚 duty to inform.
However, care must be taken when opinions are offered on ongoing issues; commenting on events while they are unfolding could call into question the impartiality of 50度灰视频鈥檚 coverage.
Analysis or opinion pieces must be clearly identified so that the reader is aware they contain the writer鈥檚 views or interpretations rather than unbiased fact. Opinion must not be portrayed as statement of fact.
Attribution
Every effort must be made to get all information and comments 鈥渙n the record鈥� and with attribution. If this is not possible, the Publishing Editor may approve the publication of information from unnamed sources. The decision whether or not to publish information from unnamed sources rests solely with the Publishing Editor, in consultation with the Managing Editor.
Unnamed sources must be credible and their information must be supported by at least one other source. Reporters must make an effort to learn as much as possible about the source鈥檚 motivation for providing information to ensure that s/he is reliable and not acting out of malice toward any individual or group. As much information as possible shall be used in the story to establish the credibility of the source without revealing her/his identity. It is essential that the reporter clearly identify whether information obtained from a source represents a substantiateable fact or that source鈥檚 opinion.
Sources must be made aware that newspaper staff could be forced by the courts to reveal their identity, so there is no guarantee of anonymity. If information is accepted 鈥渙ff the record鈥�,,鈥� the source must be advised that every effort will be made to obtain the information from another source, and that if it is confirmed, it will be published.
Under no circumstances will staff pay a source for information.
Conflict of Interest
No Editorial Staff member of 50度灰视频 may hold any elected or appointed political office.
Under no circumstances shall a Staff member use information obtained through her/his association with 50度灰视频 to her/his own advantage before it is disseminated to the public.
In the event that a member of 50度灰视频 Staff becomes a part of a news story, s/he must immediately remove herself/himself from that assignment and report to the Publishing Editor the circumstances pertaining to this decision.
Corrections
It is the duty of the newspaper to correct promptly, and with due prominence, significant inaccuracies or misleading statements or photographs. A written explanation of how the error occurred must be submitted to the Publishing Editor by the day following publication.
The Publishing Editor must approve all corrections before they are published.
Identification
Journalists should use straightforward means to obtain information. It is the reporter鈥檚 obligation to be honest when dealing with interview subjects and news sources, whether in person or by telephone. This necessitates advising the source at the outset of all interviews that s/he is speaking to a reporter and that her/his comments may appear, with attribution, in 50度灰视频.
Keeping Notes/Tape Recordings/ Photographs
A reporter鈥檚 notes may be needed as defense against charges of misquoting or libel. All notes must be kept for a minimum of 90 days in a secure place. If the Section Editor considers the notes to be of a particularly sensitive nature, or if the notes will be required for legal purposes, they must be submitted to and kept by the Managing Editor.
A reporter must not allow anyone outside of 50度灰视频 Staff members and Employees to read her/his notes.
In the interest of accuracy, it is the duty of 50度灰视频 reporters and photographers always to obtain exact addresses and telephone numbers of individuals who figure in an article.
Letters to the Editor
A concise statement of 50度灰视频鈥檚 policy on letters submitted for publication must appear in every issue.
Although the 鈥渓etters to the editor鈥� column is intended to be a public forum, and therefore to represent as many diverse opinions as possible, personal attacks or defamatory statements will not be published. Letters will be routinely edited, and will not be published unless the submitter offers identification including name, student ID number, and telephone number. The identity of a submitter may be withheld from publication upon request.
Libel
All libel notices served on 50度灰视频 must be forwarded immediately to the Publishing Editor, who shall immediately notify the Managing Editor. Anyone receiving a libel notice should note the time and method of service and attach this information to the notice. The Publishing or Managing Editor will notify the Publications Board members, who will contact the Reflector Publications Society solicitors if deemed necessary.
Staff members should not discuss threats of libel actions. Such discussions or comments could seriously jeopardize 50度灰视频鈥檚 position in court. Any editor handling a libel threat should strive to obtain a clear understanding of the complaint and should not express any view on its merits.
Cartoons/Comics
All cartoons and/or comics offered for publication in 50度灰视频 are subject to the Society Code of Ethics, Society ByLaws, and, for further clarification, the Editorial Policy.
All cartoons and/or comics must communicate something to the reader. They should be of interest to the majority of 50度灰视频’s readership and provide them with information and/or entertainment in a professional manner.
Care should be taken in the presentation of cartoons and/or comics that could appear to exploit gender, race, religion, handicaps, deformities, age, or sexual orientation.
All cartoons and/or comics offered for publication in 50度灰视频 will be the responsibility of the Entertainment and News Editors.
Photographs
Photographs must communicate something to the reader; they should be of interest to the majority of 50度灰视频鈥檚 readership and provide them with information and or entertainment in a professional manner.
Photographers are responsible for accuracy in the same manner as reporters are, because photographs (for example, words on placards) can also constitute libel. Photographers shall not capitalize on the misfortunes of others, nor shall they interfere with a person鈥檚 right to privacy.
Editors should be careful in their use of file photographs. Use of an old photograph of a person, building, or location without informing the reader of the age of the picture and/or changes that have occurred is inaccurate and unacceptable.
Care should be taken in the presentation of photographs that could appear to exploit gender, race, religion, handicaps, deformities, sexual orientation or age.
Captions
All questions that arise from viewing a photograph should be answered in the caption. It is the responsibility of the photographer to inform the editor of the situations s/he has captured. All principal subjects in photographs must be identified unless circumstances prevent the photographer from obtaining identification or unless the subject refuses to be identified. A photographer may identify subjects from a secondary source, but must ensure the accuracy of the identification.
Bylines and Photo Credits
Bylines must be used by all Staff members on every story or picture.
Reporters and photographers have the right, however, to withhold their bylines and credit stories if they feel their work has been substantially altered.
Plagiarism
Ideas, phrases, or substantial passages that are not the writer鈥檚 own must be attributed in some way.
Previously published stories, or sections thereof, from 50度灰视频 cannot be reproduced without additional research and new information added.
News is not copyrighted; the form in which it appears is. 50度灰视频 takes other stories only if the facts are accurate, and only if proper attribution is provided.
Privacy
Publishing material or making inquiries about the private lives of individuals without their consent is not acceptable.
50度灰视频 should not identify victims of sex offenses, or publish material likely to contribute to such identification.
50度灰视频 Staff members must respect the safety and privacy of sources, their families and property, and not divulge phone numbers or addresses without their permission.
Style and Language
Vivid, precise, and active writing should be the constant goal of reporters and editors. Straightforward writing with familiar words in simple construction ensures clarity, and writing should reflect the tone and significance of the story.
Stories can be bright, touching, inspiring and humorous without encroaching on the standards of impartiality, accuracy, and good taste. 50度灰视频 discourages writers from using profane or tasteless language unless this imparts compelling significance to a story.
