THE KOOTNEETI ETHICS POLICY
Preamble
As media professionals, we seek the truth and strive to present a responsible and fair glimpse of the world. Our publication is our powerful vehicle, and we endeavour to face the world with respect and candour.
Transparency is won through accuracy, compassion, intellectual honesty and an introspective mission to convey complete, contextual views of our world. When we are transparent, we conduct our professional lives as if all our colleagues and our readers are watching over our shoulders.
Accuracy, Fairness
We aim to deliver the facts with precision and context. We believe in getting not only both sides but “all” sides. The best stories are multi-sourced. Facts are triple-checked. Issues are balanced with diverse views and sources. They are, simply, as complete as possible. See Fact-checking Policy
Use of Quotes
The words of our sources and the people we cover must never be altered. Quote-marks are intended to bracket the true voices and exact words of people. If the editorial team is concerned that ungrammatical or clumsily worded remarks may expose the source to embarrassment or ridicule, then they may agree to use another quote from that person conveying the same or a similar point, or they may agree to paraphrase the source.
Plagiarism and Originality
Attribution is crucial. Proper credit is necessary if we can’t independently verify the information.
Acts of plagiarism or fabrication announce to the world that the writer did not have the honesty, skill, savvy or energy to do the work that someone else performed. Information, quotes and passages from another publication must be attributed.
All writing and reporting in The Kootneeti must be original or credited to the proper source.
Story Packaging
The presentation of bylines, taglines and datelines should accurately disclose authorship and the origin of reporting.
Bylines should convey who is largely responsible for writing and reporting. The dateline should accurately reflect where most of the reporting originated and where the reporter physically gathered the information.
Visual Accuracy
Our cameras should provide a lens to the truth.
The Kootneeti’s visuals must be genuine in every way. Photographs must not be staged or posed. They must not be altered, barring exceptional circumstances, and then only with the approval of the Managing Editor/Presentation, the Managing Editor/News and/or the Editor, and with full disclosure to readers.
Photo captions must fully explain the picture’s context. A caption for an environmental portrait, for instance, should indicate that the subject is posing for illustrative purposes unless it is obvious to the reader.
Captions and credits should clearly label a photo illustration. If there is any doubt about whether to use a photo illustration, a photo editor and the Managing Editor/Presentation should be consulted.
Pre-publication Review
Articles should not be shown to sources or people outside the Editor’s desk before publication.
However, it is sometimes acceptable to allow a source to review portions of stories for purposes of accuracy.
Fictitious Names and Events
Use of fictional names, ages, places, dates and composite characters is generally unacceptable, except in rare situations that must be approved by the Managing Editor/News and the Editor.
Fictional or composite characters can be used only as an obvious literary device, such as in satire, and only in consultation with the Managing Editor/News and the Editor.
Errors/Corrections
We make mistakes. Correcting them promptly is vital to our credibility. When an error is discovered – whether it is detected by a member of the public or a staff member – it should be discussed immediately with your supervisor and corrected as soon as possible. See Correction Policy
Questions of Taste
Out of respect for our readers, The Kootneeti avoids prurience, profanity and obscenity.
That said, sometimes the use of graphic or inflammatory language is essential to the context of a story or photograph. In some cases, omitting the language might alter the story’s meaning or render the story incomplete. The editor or Managing Editor/News must approve the use of graphic or inflammatory language.
Slang, foreign languages and colloquialisms also can be minefields. Writers and editors should avoid the use of words or phrases if they might be offensive to some racial, religious, gender or ethnic groups unless the language is essential to the story’s meaning or completeness. A department head should be consulted when making such decisions, and the Editor or Managing Editor/News should be informed.
Misrepresentations
We should be honest in carrying out all of our work. We should identify ourselves in all situations.
Journalistic Contests
The Kootneeti’s editorial employees should not enter their work for The Post in contests that are not sponsored by professional journalism organizations or approved by the Managing Editor/News or the Editor. No awards of value should be accepted from any groups other than those described above.
Community Involvement
Political and Civic Involvement
Because politics is the primary fault line along which our critics attack us, the greatest attention must be paid by all newsroom employees to remain impartial in political discourse when representing the newspaper. Newsroom employees are encouraged to vote and engage in private debate as long as their views are expressed as their own and not representing the views of the newspaper.
Honoraria and Speaking Engagements
The Kootneeti encourages staff members to make public appearances, however, Editorial Team should be consulted before speaking engagements connected to your role are accepted; this includes television and radio appearances.
Freelance Work
No freelance work may be done for media in direct competition with The Kootneeti without consulting the supervisor/management. Employees must disclose all freelance work to a senior editor in advance so that it can be determined if the work is perceived by management to be in direct competition with The Post. A guiding principle: No paid or unpaid freelance work should scoop The Kootneeti.
Book Contracts and other projects
The Kootneeti Editors should not enter into any projects – including web-site projects, books, and scripts for television and film – that place them in a business relationship with anyone or any entity they cover.
Implementation
The purpose of this ethics policy is to protect the credibility of The Kootneeti. Questions about the policy or its application to a particular circumstance should be discussed with a supervisor. Disclosure and discussion are fundamental to newsroom ethics.
