Last Updated: February 17, 1999
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The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Code of Ethics
1. Statement of principle
Journalists must avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety
as well as any conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict. They
should neither accept anything nor pursue any activities that might compromise
or seem to compromise their integrity. They must also recognize that their
conduct reflects directly upon their employer and take no action inconsistent
with their newspaper's journalistic or business interests.
2. Responsibility
Gazette staff members are to behave in a professional manner. Their
most important obligation is to perform the duties for which they are employed
by The Gazette with undivided loyalty. All interpretations of appropriate
conduct in all situations will stem from this basic premise.
Additionally, an individual's interests outside The Gazette shall not
come into conflict with -- or create the appearance of conflict with --
the staff member's professional duties at The Gazette.
Free-lancers (reporters, photographers, artists) have the same basic
responsibility not to have their private lives conflict with their work
for The Gazette. It is the responsibility of the free-lancer's editor to
inform the free-lancer of Gazette policy and to make sure a conflict does
not exist.
This code applies to all Gazette newsroom employees.
3. Connections Employees shall not use Gazette connections for
their own benefit, or to benefit a third party. Staff members shall not
use their positions at The Gazette to obtain, for themselves or for another
person, any benefit or advantage in commercial transactions and personal
business. It is improper for a staff member, for instance, to write a letter
of complaint to a merchant on Gazette stationery or to try to imply a threat
to a merchant by leaving word to "call back at The Gazette.''
4. Nepotism
Nepotism is contrary to The Gazette's equal opportunity employment policy
and inconsistent with sound managerial practices. Therefore, it is the
policy of The Gazette not to hire any relative of a Gazette employee if
the employee would participate in the decision to hire the relative or
could, directly or indirectly, participate in decisions affecting any of
the relative's terms and conditions of employment.
Editors are forbidden to hire, use as free-lancers or otherwise pay
their spouses, children, parents, in-laws or ex-spouses without the written
approval of the managing editor, associate managing editor or the editorial
page editor. Common sense dictates that employees who have a serious romantic
relationship with one another are also subject to this provision of the
code.
If, while on the payroll, an employee becomes a relative of another
employee in the company, one must not directly or indirectly supervise
or participate in decisions affecting any of the other terms and conditions
of employment. Management will make whatever adjustments are necessary
to the status of the involved parties to make sure an employee doesn't
supervise a relative.
A staff member shall not write about (or photograph or make news judgments
about) any person related to him or her by blood, adoption or marriage
or with whom the staff member has or had a close personal or romantic relationship.
A staff member who is placed in a circumstance in which this kind of conflict
becomes likely shall advise his or her supervisor of the relationship.
Certain staffers - columnists, for example, or those doing first-person
pieces - may write about their families without its being a conflict of
interest.
5. Gratuities
The acceptance of gratuities of more than token value, whether in products,
services or a combination of products and services, is prohibited.
We pay our own way. If it is newsworthy, we can afford it.
Courtesies may be accepted if they are within the range of courtesies
usually extended by the corporation or institution to persons other than
the news media (e.g., attendance at a reception where sandwiches are being
served since such things would likely be served at receptions for other
persons; acceptance of coffee or telephone privileges when visiting the
office of a news source, etc.). Let common sense be the guide.
If the courtesy extended is beyond the customary range offered by the
institution or corporation, Gazette employees covering an event may participate
at Gazette expense.
In the case of a public speech, dinner, or event that is newsworthy
-- and we are covering -- The Gazette will purchase the necessary tickets.
However, in the case of a political party event, a free ticket will be
accepted because to purchase a ticket would contribute to a particular
party.
Gazette employees will not accept invitations to parties, cocktail hours
or the like where the purpose is purely and obviously promotional. If there
is a question, a decision will be made by the managing editor or associate
managing editor.
We will purchase our own movie, theater and concert admissions. However,
acceptance of sports events passes, which carry press box admittance or
the like -- and we are covering the event -- is acceptable. In the case
of other events, when questions arise, consultation with the managing editor
or associate managing editor is required.
Although we will always try to pay, there may be cases in which it is
impossible or impractical to buy a ticket. In such cases, the staff member
may accept a free ticket, and The Gazette will then donate a sum of money,
equal to the price of the ticket, to an appropriate non-profit group.
We will not accept free airplane tickets from an industry or business
to a news event. The same rule applies to free transportation offered by
a public, tax-supported agency. We will pay our own way. If there is any
question or unusual situation, a decision will be made by the managing
editor or associate managing editor.
In any other cases that may arise, acceptance of a gratuity will not
be made without prior consultation with the managing editor or associate
managing editor.
Access to press boxes, press galleries and press rooms may be granted
to other reporters, photographers and staff members on those occasions
when the access is necessary to develop information or skills. Supervisors
are responsible for making certain that inappropriate advantage is not
being taken of such situations.
Nightclub admission costs or cover charges, and the costs of necessary
meals incurred while on company business, shall be paid by The Gazette.
Staff members may encounter situations in which it is socially awkward,
or even impossible, to pay for a meal or entertainment; such situations
are rare and may not be entered habitually.
Occasionally, someone may buy a staff member a drink. This is regarded
as a simple courtesy and the staff member shall undertake at an appropriate
opportunity to repay the courtesy.
Staff members shall not accept business-connected gifts, free rooms,
sample merchandise, special reduced rates, funds provided by gaming establishments
and race tracks, or any other low-pay or no-pay arrangement. Bottles of
liquor or wine shall be considered gifts of more than token value.
Such gifts shall be immediately returned to the sender with a polite
explanation that company policy does not permit the acceptance of such
gifts. In cases where it is impractical or impossible to return a gift,
the gift is sent to the office of either the managing editor, the associate
managing editor or the editorial page editor. One of them will arrange
to donate it to a charity and to write the sender explaining what has been
done.
6. Review materials
We will accept books and records for review because by so doing we perform
an informational and public function that otherwise would be difficult
to do.
Books, recordings, etc., that are not reviewed shall be made available
first to interested staff members and after that to a public or charitable
institution.
Books, recordings, etc., that are of particular use to specialists on
The Gazette staff may be retained by The Gazette.
7. Outside employment
All employees have an obligation to perform the duties for which they
are employed by The Gazette with undivided loyalty. Any proposed employment
with an employer other than The Gazette that might interfere with the employee's
obligations to The Gazette -- either because it would be time-consuming
or because it might place the employee in a conflict situation -- shall
not be undertaken without the permission of the managing editor, associate
managing editor or editorial page editor. When an employee has a doubt,
he or she should consult these editors.
Writing, editing, making photographs or creating illustrations for any
publication in competition with The Gazette is prohibited by this code.
Publicity or public relations work, including such work as a volunteer
for a charitable organization, is prohibited for full-time and part-time
Gazette employees.
8. Free-lance
In general, it is the policy of The Gazette to permit employees subject
to this code to free-lance for publications that are not in competition
with The Gazette, provided that the proposed assignment would not otherwise
adversely affect The Gazette. Therefore, no free-lance assignments shall
be accepted or undertaken without the prior written knowledge of the managing
editor, associate managing editor or editorial page editor.
The Gazette owns all rights, including the copyrights, to all materials
prepared or obtained by its employees during the course of their employment.
Therefore, no employee shall use or otherwise produce such materials for
use outside The Gazette without having first obtained the written approval
of the department head.
9. Investments
Reporters and editors shall not enter into business relationships with
news sources or the subjects of news articles. Reporters and editors shall
not invest in a business if the financial interest could be expected to
come into conflict with the reporter's or editor's obligations to The Gazette.
Business department editors with investments or stock holdings in corporations
or other business entities shall not write about, edit or make news decisions
that involve those corporations or businesses. General newsroom reporters
covering this type of news must disclose their holdings to the department
head.
Where there is any doubt as to the appropriateness of a business investment,
it is a staff member's duty to seek a clarification from the department
head.
10. Radio and television
Occasional appearances on radio and television shows, including cable
TV, by Gazette staff members are generally permissible but shall be reported
in advance to a department head. Staff members, whose work for The Gazette
is expected to meet high standards of impartiality, shall endeavor to demonstrate
a comparable commitment to fairness when on the air.
Fees for occasional appearances must be approved by the managing editor,
associate managing editor or editorial page editor beforehand. A staff
member shall not enter into a commitment for regular involvement with a
radio or television program without the prior written approval of the managing
editor, associate managing editor or the editorial page editor. Such written
approval must be obtained on an annual basis.
11. Political activity or other advocacy
Because the nature of our profession requires fairness, impartiality
and the appearance of impartiality, staff members shall exercise great
care before becoming involved in any political activity beyond registering
and voting. Staff members must be aware that innocent actions (wearing
a political button, for example) may give the wrong impression to members
of the public. We operate in the public domain -- on and off the job.
Starting with persons hired after the date of this policy (Jan. 1, 1987),
under no circumstances may a staff member run for political office or work,
for pay or as a volunteer, in a political campaign organization. If a relative
-- spouse, parent, child, brother or sister, for example -- or a close
friend is involved in a political campaign or organization, the staff member
shall refrain from covering or making news judgments about such a campaign
or organization.
A staff member who chooses to become active in a social cause should
recognize the potential for conflict and should discuss it with his or
her editor. Participation in events such as public demonstrations where
a staff member could be involved unintentionally in making the news is
discouraged.
Making contributions to political or quasi-political groups, signing
petitions, etc., should be undertaken with care and with the use of good
judgment.
In addition, reporters and editors should bear in mind that if they
accept positions of leadership in community groups, they may one day find
themselves in conflict with their work at The Gazette. On the other hand,
we encourage staff participation in voluntary community organizations.
Staff members may hold positions of leadership in groups that have a
limited community impact and that do not fall in the normal range of coverage
by The Gazette. Employees may not be involved in policy-making positions
or act as spokesmen for major outside organizations. This does not apply
to rank-and-file membership in such groups. Staff members have an obligation
to discuss a potential conflict with their editor.
As one of the major institutions in the area, The Gazette cannot operate
in isolation from the community it serves. Executives on the business side
of the paper will, from time to time, be members or directors of appropriate
community groups.
NOTE: This Code of Ethics is intended to provide guidance for conduct
in certain types of situations. It is not contractual in nature nor does
it limit in any way employees' rights (or The Gazette Company's) to terminate
employment as they may choose.
