Last Updated: February 17, 1999
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THE JOURNAL GAZETTE ETHICS POLICY
These guidelines have been developed to meet the dual responsibility
journalists have to themselves and to the public they serve.
They are intended as standards that staff members can use when they
face decisions or situations that affect their professional integrity and
the integrity of The Journal Gazette.
They apply to everyone in reporting, editing, graphic and administrative
positions.
The guidelines also are intended to inform the public of the standards
by which The Journal Gazette gathers and publishes information. Under
this principle, the public has a right to expect a newspaper to remain
free from influences, and the appearance of influences, that might affect
what is reported. The guidelines represent a pledge by The Journal
Gazette and its staff to maintain and cultivate public confidence.
NEWS CONTENT: Good faith with the reader is the foundation of good journalism.
Every effort must be made to assure that the news content is accurate,
free from bias and in context, and that all sides are presented fairly.
Editorials, analytical articles and commentary should be held to the same
standards of accuracy with respect to facts as news reports. Errors
of fact, as well as errors of omission, should be corrected promptly and
prominently.
PHOTOGRAPHS: It has always been the policy of The Journal Gazette that
content alteration of photographs is unacceptable using past or present
technology. If significant reason exists to change this policy it
will be addressed in the following manner:
NO DISCUSSION NEEDED:
(1) Minor dodging or burning or color correction of areas in the photograph
that do not change the content; for instance, lightening or darkening areas
to make them reproducible. Adding or removing elements that do not
realistically represent what the camera captured is forbidden.
(2) Correction or removing of dirt or dust spots, or of technical defects
in the photograph.
DISCUSSION REQUIRED:
(1) Photographs with the potential to breach community standards; for
example, inclusion of genitals, obscene gestures, offensive cultural elements.
(2) Photographs that may offend community standards, including gruesome
or emotionally distressing photographs.
(3) Discussion with graphics editor or chief photographer is required
to manipulate photographs in the darkroom or electronically. If a
photo is manipulated in any way it must be labeled as a photo illustration
(meaning the photo was set up) or as an electronically manipulated photo
(example: removing or creating elements in the illustration). Manipulated
photos must be approved by the editor or managing editor. Extent
of the alteration and/or the technique should be clearly explained to readers.
TRUTHFULNESS: All photographs used in The Journal Gazette should accurately
represent the situations they portray. Photographers should never
use "set-up" photographs or ask someone to reconstruct scenes. This
does not apply to environmental portraits and illustrations.
PHOTO IN ADVERTISEMENTS: Photographs shall not be used in advertisements
unless approved by the editor or managing editor.
FREE-LANCE: Staffers should clear all free-lance projects with their
supervisors and either the editor or managing editor. Such assignments
are to be done on the staffer's own time and without use of Journal Gazette
resources. Generally, The Journal Gazette will allow staffers to
do work for publications that don't attract local advertisers and don't
aim specifically at our circulation area.
The Journal Gazette library may be used to research free-lance assignments
only with permission of the head librarian and editor or managing editor.
If free-lance work benefits from travel or other special expenses which
The Journal Gazette paid for in connection with Journal Gazette work, the
newspaper may be entitled to part of the free-lance fee. These matters
should be approved by the staffer's supervisor and the editor or managing
editor.
MEDIA AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Staffers who are invited to participate
in TV or radio shows, to join panel discussions or to give speeches in
connection with their professional work must check the proposal, including
any honorarium and/or expenses, with their department editor before accepting.
WORK PRODUCED ON COMPANY TIME: Information and photographs produced
on company time are considered property of the company. Sale of such
material is permitted only with permission by the editor or managing editor.
PERSONAL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES: Employees should not use their positions
on the newspaper to their advantage in commercial transactions or for other
personal gain. This specifically prohibits such practices as the
use of The Journal Gazette stationery for private business matters,
personal letters of protest or similar dealings. Staff members may
take outside jobs provided that such jobs do not interfere with regular
work duties and there is no conflict of interest. Staff members may
not exploit their titles or employment at The Journal Gazette during outside
employment.
POLITICAL OR SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES: Staff members may hold no
paid political position or appointed public office. Staff members
also should not contribute to or hold office in political or special interest
organizations. Active participation in any such organization is discouraged
because of the possible interpretation that The Journal Gazette or all
staff members endorse the organization. Any affiliation relating
to a story a staff member is covering or editing must be disclosed to the
staff member's editor.
ENTERTAINMENT: The Journal Gazette will pay for meals when a staff member
is on company business. Dinner or cocktail parties are allowed if
the event relates to news coverage or if it is critical for background
or sourcing. Free entertainment events that have little or nothing
to do with news coverage should be avoided.
FREE TICKETS AND PASSES: Free tickets and passes to entertainment and
sports events may neither be accepted nor solicited by staff members.
If assigned to cover or review an event or program, staff members will
purchase their own tickets for the event and will be reimbursed by the
company. Exceptions would be sportswriters covering games.
Reporters on assignments may accept passes to events where there are special
facilities - such as press boxes, press tables or photo areas - for which
tickets are not sold. A staff member who needs to attend an event
for background purposes, and for which there are no special facilities,
will be reimbursed by The Journal Gazette. In other cases, all tickets
sent by mail or given to the newsroom will be returned or destroyed.
TRAVEL: In very rare cases, free trips or those at a reduced rate taken
as a part of an assignment may be accepted if they are cleared through
an editor. Articles resulting from such trips will include an editor's
note that the trip was sponsored by an organization. Otherwise, The
Journal Gazette will pay all costs involved in travel for news coverage
or background information for staff members. This includes transportation,
meals and hotels while on assignment. Staff members may travel on
chartered planes (with a sports team or political candidate, for example)
and take advantage of hotel booking or other services offered by a news
source provided that the team or organization bills The Journal Gazette
for the full cost involved. The Journal Gazette will estimate the
cost if no figures are provided.
USE OF MERCHANDISE OR PRODUCTS: Staff members should not accept the
free use of, or a reduced rate for, merchandise or products for personal
pleasure when such an offer involves the staffer's newspaper position.
This includes the donation, loan or cut-rate purchase of clothing, or sporting
goods, books, CDs or videos, for example. A staff member may use
a product for a short time to test or evaluate it for news or feature articles
or photographic purposes. Products not immediately returned become
part of the newsroom charity.
OTHER GIFTS AND GRATUITIES: Journal Gazette staffers should never profit
in any way beyond salaries from what is published in our newspaper.
Gifts worth more than $5 should be returned immediately with a courteous
explanation of our ethics policy or donated in the giver's name to a local
charity. Gifts of insignificant value, such as pencils and key chains,
should be donated to The Journal Gazette book sale for charity. Staff
members should consult an editor if special situations arise.
