Last Updated: February 17, 1999
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The Dallas Morning News
NEWS DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES
The news department has guidelines to supplement the company's employee
handbook. All staffers are encouraged to discuss them with any of the senior
editors at any time. Each newsroom employee is expected to be familiar
with these guidelines.
Any newspaper's reputation rests on its credibility and its readers'
perception of that credibility. Fairness and accuracy are the cornerstones
of credibility.
The following should be kept for reference and may be updated. Violating
some guidelines could result in disciplinary action or termination.
1. Fairness
All sides of an issue should be included in every report. Every effort
will be made to obtain a prompt, complete rebuttal where any accusations
are made against an individual, company or institution. Similar play will
be given for initial accusations and acquittal. Include rebuttals in the
main or deck portion of a headline as well as in the early paragraphs of
a story and definitely before it jumps from the cover page of a section
front.
2. Corrections and Clarifications
These will be published promptly after their accuracy is determined.
Memos from appropriate staffers will explain how the error occurred. Every
staffer is an ombudsman in this sense, and we pursue each complaint vigorously.
Every complaining party must get a response, regardless of whether
we publish a correction or a clarification. The explanatory memo is not
punitive, but seeks to ensure we do not repeat errors and to determine
how they happened.
3. Freebies, Integrity, Products for Review
Do not accept freebies from the public or news sources. Gifts should
be returned to the sender or given to charity unless they are insignificant
items ($10 and under), which can be retained or disposed of as you wish.
Do not use your position with the paper to obtain a better deal on goods
and services.
Products (books, recordings, videotapes, software and product samples)
should not be sold for personal gain. After review, they should be sent
to the appropriate public library, given to charitable organizations or
sold by the company for charitable purposes. Products such as computer
equipment should be borrowed for review and then returned or disposed of
as charitable giving.
4. Plagiarism, Fabrication
This is a firing offense and includes material from Dallas Morning News
stories as well as other sources. Plagiarism is lifting identical material
without appropriate attribution or citation and does not preclude
using specific facts from research. Wire service materials should be attributed
in the story text or in the tagline. Fabricating stories that purport to
be truthful also is a firing offense.
5. Racial identification
Racial identifications are used only when necessary to the story. Racial
identification of suspects is used when the description provides enough
information to exclude all but a narrow group of people using specific
identifiers (such as but not limited to age, weight, height, clothing,
hats, scars, hair color, getaway cars, etc.) Questions should be directed
to the ranking editors on duty.
6. Legal Issues
Any attorney raising a question about any material in the newspaper
should be referred immediately to the appropriate editor. All legal matters
must be brought to the attention of the managing editor or executive editor
and should be handled by Belo counsel or the designated attorney. When
possible, it is appropriate to attempt to defuse the issue with an offended
party other than a legal representative. This may be as simple as a phone
call and discussion or a correction or clarification. Offended parties
often want someone to listen to them and do not initially intend to carry
the issue to the courts. All subpoenas should be referred to Michael J.
McCarthy, senior corporate vice president/counsel for A.H. Belo Corp. Do
not turn over any unpublished material, including stories, memos, notes,
photos, negatives and any graphics, to any person, and immediately advise
your supervising editor of any demand for these materials. Challenge any
closed public meetings and advise your editor immediately. Familiarize
yourself with pertinent Texas law regarding open meetings, open records,
and basic libel law. All material in this newspaper is protected by copyright.
Advise your editor of any misuse of your material in any other media.
7. Public Relations
Respond promptly to all phone calls, letters, voice mails and e-mails.
A reader's contact with you might be his or her only contact with this
newspaper, so courtesy is essential. Newspapers must combat the perception
of being aloof, arrogant and divorced from the community. Make every possible
effort to obtain information for a caller or writer without referring them
to yet another desk or person. All requests for corrections should be directed
to an editor for discussion.
8. Obscenities
With few exceptions, we don't print them. The editor, executive editor
or managing editor must approve any obscenity to be published. Source and
context will be considered. Obscenities offend many readers and often divert
attention from the story.
9. Nepotism
Relatives or spouses may work in the news department, but no relative
or spouse can report directly to that relative or spouse.
10. Freelancing, Outside Work
Freelancing must be approved in advance by your department head. It
must be in a non-competitive medium, done on your time and cannot interfere
with your Dallas Morning News obligations. Discuss outside employment in
advance with your supervisor to assure that no conflict or appearance of
conflict exists. The same guidelines apply to freelance work published
on Internet websites. Freelance material purchased for use in the DMN may
be used on its Internet editions unless other advance arrangements were
made with individual freelancers.
11. Education
Each staffer is urged to continue his/her studies, subject to work schedules
and approval of appropriate editors. Depending on academic performance,
the staffer may be reimbursed by the company. Tuition and books reimbursement
is capped at $1,500 per year. Foreign language, business and writing
classes are among those that receive tuition reimbursement.
12. Sources
They should be fully identified and anonymous only when absolutely essential
to a significant story. Using anonymous sources must be approved by a deputy
managing editor or a higher-ranking editor before publication. Stories
should have two independent sources when based on anonymous sources unless
otherwise approved by the editor or executive editor. Seek to keep sources
from going off the record. Unnamed sources must be aware that they could
be identified if lawsuits involving coverage were pursued and efforts to
keep them confidential were exhausted in legal disputes (known as "Mirandizing"
a source). We do not publish ambush or defamatory quotes from anonymous
sources. Discuss these issues with your editor.
13. Conflicts of Interest
Avoid investments in companies about which you might be reporting. We
also must be selective about organizations we join because any group could
be the subject of a newspaper report. Reader perception is as important
as reality. This is in no way intended to interfere with the practice of
your religion or your participation in neighborhood or youth activities,
for example. We distinguish between volunteering for a community group
or school and that of occupying a role in which you would supervise
budget, policy or personnel decisions made by a board of directors. Confer
with your department head when questions arise.
14. Political Activity
Avoid any public political activity, including contributions that would
be on public records and could be used in endorsements without your knowledge.
Do not run for office, speak, sign political petitions or campaign for
any candidate or in behalf of any issue except in connection with
professional journalism groups. This is not intended to discourage exercising
your right to vote.
15. Obituaries
Be certain that any contacts related to a death are handled with care
and sensitivity. We seek the cause of death for news obituaries, but that
information can be withheld if the family requests it and our editors approve.
Discuss with your editor whether we should report suicides, which we would
do normally only if it involved a public figure or public suicide.
16. Photographs, Graphics
Visuals have a tremendous impact on our readers. Follow good taste and
good sense. As in many areas of taste, these should be discussed on their
individual merits with appropriate Photo and News Art editors. Editorial
photographs should never mislead the reader regarding their content, time
or place of the information depicted. All environmental portraits or controlled
situations should be executed in a manner that makes the context obvious
to the reader. Photo illustrations can be misleading and should be used
sparingly and only in consultation with the photo editors. They must be
clearly labeled as photo illustrations. Photos are information and shouldn't
be used as page decor, fillers or graphic devices. The DMN prohibits manipulation
of photo images. Enhancement for reproduction purposes, which includes
burning, dodging and color correction, can be done only in the Photo department.
17. Television, Radio Appearances
These must be approved in advance by the managing editor or executive
editor. Avoid discussions that could compromise your objectivity in the
perception of your readers. Benefits of such exposure to the newspaper
should be weighed against possible misunderstandings or compromises regarding
the reporter or editor.
18. Professional Activities
Staffers are encouraged to participate in media industry groups and
activities including panels and seminars, as long as that participation
would not compromise the employee in his or her daily activity in the newspaper.
19. Reprints
All reprint permission comes from the managing editor's office. Generally
reprints must be in full, credited to the newspaper and not imply any endorsement
by this paper. Assistant to the managing editor John Davenport handles
such inquiries.
20. Dress
Clothing should be appropriate to the job. Appearances and public perception
are important.
21. Smoking, Drinking
Smoking and drinking alcohol is prohibited in the news department. Drinking
alcohol is prohibited while working.
22. DMN, Belo References in the Newspaper
Any report on companies or individuals involved in The Dallas Morning
News, the A.H. Belo Corp., or any of its subsidiaries will be referred
to the managing editor or executive editor prior to publication.
23. Overtime
Overtime should be approved in advance except when covering major spot
news such as disasters. Non-salaried people who work more than 40 hours
in a week receive pay at time and half. Salaried people receive paid time
off as deemed appropriate by their supervisors. Salaried people do not
receive paid time off on an hour-per-hour basis.
24. Expenses/Entertainment
Company policy is explicit: we accept no free travel from businesses,
governments, political parties or anyone else. Follow instructions on the
back of expense forms or check with your supervising editor. Information
and receipts are essential for Internal Revenue Service substantiation.
All expense reports must be submitted immediately after a trip.
25. Courtesy Titles
Appropriate titles are used in all news sections except in cases involving
historical figures (e.g., Lincoln, Churchill, Hitler) or in sports. Mrs.,
Miss or Ms. is used according to individual preference, if known. If not
known, Ms. is the default title. Mr. is the usual courtesy title for males.
We have many options, however, in choosing courtesy titles. Don't repeat
courtesy titles where skillful writing or editing can reduce their number.
See the DMN Stylebook for details.
26. Diversity/Inclusiveness
This newspaper is dedicated to thorough and sensitive coverage of women,
blacks, Hispanics, Asians, American Indians and gays and lesbians, among
others. We are concerned about minority representation on the staff and
coverage of minority issues.
27. Crime Victims, Arrests
Names of rape victims are withheld unless they ask to be identified.
Crime victims may be protected by reporting general locations of homes
such as blocks rather than specific house addresses. An arrested individual
usually is not named until charges are filed or he is arraigned before
a judge. Exceptions can include a very prominent person in a highly public
offense or "smoking gun" incidents. Supervising editors must be consulted
in these cases.
28. Job Postings
Most newsroom positions that are open will be posted. Everything being
absolutely equal, preference will be given to internal staff promotions.
You are encouraged to discuss your career interest with any supervising
editor, department head, appropriate management person, or the managing
editor or executive editor. Senior or technical staff positions may
be filled by senior editors without posting.
29. Departmental Relations
All staffers are encouraged to cooperate with and become familiar with
operations in circulation, production, advertising and other departments
of The Dallas Morning News. Any advertiser
request for stories or photos should be routed through the managing
editor's office to avoid any appearance or perception of pressure on this
staff. However, any person inside or outside of The Dallas Morning News
is encouraged to offer story or photo ideas to the news department, and
they should be received courteously.
30. Proprietary Information
You may become aware of certain information that must be protected by
the company in this competitive media market. Protect it.
31. Safety
No story is worth a staffer's life or safety. Take all possible precautions
on your assignment and keep your supervising editor advised immediately
of any threats to you or your family. No laws should be broken in pursuit
of a story or photograph.
32. Passports, Languages, Other Interests
Staffers often are needed for foreign assignment without much notice.
Updated and valid passports and foreign language facility are important
factors. Your geographical background (place where you may have lived some
time) or interests (law, archaeology, medicine, whatever) could be important
to share with an assigning editor.
33. Knight Ridder News Service
We file staff work on this wire at the time of or after publication
in The Dallas Morning News. We do not permit reprints of staff work in
media competing in markets with Knight Ridder clients. Other papers filing
on this wire include the Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune and Miami
Herald, among others.
34. Car Insurance
Do not take out insurance on cars rented from Avis, Hertz or Budget.
We already carry coverage with all three.
35. American Express
Reporters and photographers may obtain American Express Corporate Cards
through The Dallas Morning News. These credit cards are used only for business-related
travel, meals, entertainment, lodging and automobile rentals, and are surrendered
if the staffer leaves the employment of The Morning News. The staffer is
responsible for paying all charges promptly, regardless whether she/he
has received reimbursement. If the card becomes in excess of 60 days past
due, the account will be canceled.
36. Misrepresentation/Deception
No staffer will represent himself or herself as anything other than
a Dallas Morning News reporter, editor, photographer, artists, columnist
or other occupation. If for security or other reasons you must avoid identification,
you must inform your editor as soon as possible. The managing editor and
executive editor also must be informed.
37. Public Relations
If you feel any public authority is interfering with your duties as
a journalist, notify your editor immediately. Proper press identification
is available to the appropriate staffers and should not be abused.
38. Speakers Bureau
The marketing department coordinates speaking engagements available
to staffers for a small payment. We should make ourselves available as
much as possible to speak to groups such as schools and media professional
groups. Any honorarium should be discussed with your editor before making
a speaking engagement. This does not include payment of travel costs for
speeches to industry groups and colleges.
39. Reference Library Searches
The Reference department will not search for any credit, bank or medical
records that are not a matter of public record. Any exception must be approved
by the managing editor or executive editor. Also, Reference will not conduct
searches for a staffer's personal use.
40. Resignations/Terminations
Employees must surrender all company equipment when they leave their
job at the DMN. Equipment including portable computers, cell phones, pagers,
calling cards, Internet business accounts and long-distance dialing codes
must be returned before the employee's final check will be issued. A list
of what must be returned is on file in the managing editor's office.
41. The Dallas Morning News Name
Do not use the name of the DMN, the paper's stationery or your business
cards for personal use (for example, when complaining about poor service
at a store). The newspaper's name must not be used directly or by implication
in your personal activities.
42. Use of the Internet and Personal Computers
The Internet should be used only for company purposes when working on
company time. Playing computer games or in fantasy sports leagues while
on company is prohibited. The internal e-mail system is not for personal
use such as selling tickets, especially by using the $ON and $ALL message
groups.
43. Fellowships, Leaves
Staffers must have permission before applying for fellowships, personal
leaves and book-writing leaves. Issues of pay and benefits during those
leaves must be discussed at the outset.
44. Telephone Use
DMN cellular telephones or cellular phone bills reimbursed by the company
should be used for work-related calls. If personal calls are made, the
employee will repay those costs. We strongly urge employees traveling on
assignment to call the office using the 1-800 number whenever possible
and to avoid cellular roaming charges, which are very expensive.
Finally, no guidelines or codes can or should anticipate every situation.
Individual cases require individual discussion, so feel free to contact
the appropriate editors any time, day or night, if problems arise. In summary,
always be guided by fairness, accuracy and good common sense.
Gilbert Bailon
Vice President and Executive Editor
Stuart Wilk
Managing Editor
June 1998
