1. Accuracy and Fairness
- Accuracy: Publishers must strive to ensure that all published content is accurate, well-researched, and fact-checked. Information should be clear, correct, and presented in a way that can be easily understood.
- Fairness: Publishers must ensure balanced and fair representation of all viewpoints in news stories. Any form of biased or misleading reporting is strictly prohibited.
2. Impartiality and Independence
- Impartial Reporting: News must be reported impartially without favoring any side, political party, or individual. Editorial independence should be maintained to prevent any external influence from shaping the content.
- Avoid Conflicts of Interest: Publishers and journalists should avoid situations where their personal or financial interests might influence their work. Full disclosure of any potential conflicts should be made.
3. Respect for Privacy
- Privacy Protection: Journalists must respect the privacy of individuals unless the information is of public interest or necessary for the context of the story. Intrusive or sensational reporting about private lives is prohibited unless justified by the public good.
- Sensitive Content: Care must be taken when dealing with sensitive content, especially in cases involving vulnerable individuals, minors, or traumatic events.
4. Plagiarism and Attribution
- No Plagiarism: Publishers must ensure that all content is original or properly attributed to credible sources. Plagiarism or the use of content without proper citation is prohibited.
- Proper Citation: Any external source or content used must be clearly cited, including data, images, and multimedia.
5. Harmful and Offensive Content
- Avoid Harm: Publishers must ensure that their content does not cause unnecessary harm or distress to individuals or communities. This includes avoiding content that could incite violence, hatred, or discrimination.
- Respect for Diversity: Content should reflect and respect the diversity of society and avoid promoting stereotypes or discriminatory views.
6. Transparency in Sponsorships and Advertisements
- Clear Labeling of Sponsored Content: Any content that is sponsored or part of a partnership must be clearly labeled as such, so readers can distinguish it from editorial content.
- Separation of News and Ads: There must be a clear separation between news content and advertising. Sponsored content should not be disguised as regular news articles.
7. Accountability and Correctness
- Corrections and Clarifications: If an error is made, it must be corrected promptly and transparently. Corrections should be clearly visible and the date of correction should be mentioned.
- Accountability for Mistakes: Publishers must take responsibility for mistakes or inaccuracies in their content and must ensure that corrections are made publicly.
8. Ethical Reporting of Visual and Audio Content
- Integrity of Visuals: Publishers must ensure that all visuals (images, videos) used in their content are authentic and not misleading. Any altered or manipulated visuals should be clearly labeled as such.
- No Distortion: Audio and video content should not be distorted or manipulated to mislead the audience. The context of such content should always be preserved.
9. Avoiding Sensationalism
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No Sensationalism: Content should not exaggerate or sensationalize facts to attract attention. News should be presented in a responsible and restrained manner without inflating the significance of the story.
10. Ethical Handling of User-Generated Content
- Verification of User-Generated Content: If user-generated content (such as comments, posts, or submissions) is used, it should be verified for accuracy and authenticity.
- Moderation: Platforms should moderate user comments and content to ensure that it does not violate ethical standards or spread misinformation.