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GANNETT
NEWSPAPER DIVISION
I. PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL
CONDUCT FOR
NEWSROOMS
WE ARE COMMITTED TO:
Seeking and
reporting the truth in a truthful way
- We will dedicate ourselves to reporting the news accurately,
thoroughly and in context.
- We will be honest in the way we gather, report and present news.
- We will be persistent in the pursuit of the whole story.
- We will keep our word.
- We will hold factual information in opinion columns and editorials
to the same standards of accuracy as news stories.
- We will seek to gain sufficient understanding of the communities,
individuals and stories we cover to provide an informed account
of activities.
Serving the
public interest
- We will uphold First Amendment principles to serve the democratic
process.
- We will be vigilant watchdogs of government and institutions
that affect the public.
- We will provide the news and information that people need to
function as effective citizens.
- We will seek solutions as well as expose problems and wrongdoing.
- We will provide a public forum for diverse people and views.
- We will reflect and encourage understanding of the diverse segments
of our community.
- We will provide editorial and community leadership.
- We will seek to promote understanding of complex issues.
Exercising fair
play
- We will treat people with dignity, respect and compassion.
- We will correct errors promptly.
- We will strive to include all sides relevant to a story and
not take sides in news coverage.
- We will explain to readers our journalistic processes.
- We will give particular attention to fairness in relations with
people unaccustomed to dealing with the press.
- We will use unnamed sources as the sole basis for published
information only as a last resort and under specific procedures
that best serve the publicās right to know.
- We will be accessible to readers.
Maintaining
independence
- We will remain free of outside interests, investments or business
relationships that may compromise the credibility of our news
report.
- We will maintain an impartial, armās length relationship with
anyone seeking to influence the news.
- We will avoid potential conflicts of interest and eliminate
inappropriate influence on content.
- We will be free of improper obligations to news sources, newsmakers
and advertisers.
- We will differentiate advertising from news.
Acting with
integrity
- We will act honorably and ethically in dealing with news sources,
the public and our colleagues.
- We will obey the law.
- We will observe common standards of decency.
- We will take responsibility for our decisions and consider the
possible consequences of our actions.
- We will be conscientious in observing these Principles.
- We will always try to do the right thing.
ADDENDUM TO PRINCIPLES
No statement of principles and procedures can envision every
circumstance that may be faced in the course of covering the news.
As in the United States Constitution, fundamental principles sometimes
conflict. Careful judgment and common sense must be applied to make
the decisions that best serve the public interest and result in
the greatest good.
To help protect these Principles, practices have been drafted
to address such subjects as unnamed sources, correcting errors and
other issues. These guidelines have been distributed within the
newsroom and are available upon request.
This newspaper and its news professionals are committed to
observing the highest standards of journalism, as expressed by these
Principles.
We invite public comment and questions. Click
here to comment.
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