Last Updated: February 17, 1999
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THE SEATTLE TIMES
NEWSROOM POLICIES AND GUIDELINES
The following are standards of professional conduct for a Seattle Times
staff that already conforms to high standards of journalistic integrity.
These standards set forth guidelines of honorable conduct. They
cannot cover every circumstance or answer every question involving professional
conduct. But the guidelines set the tone for what's expected of everyone
in the News and Editorial Departments. Editors should make sure that
free-lancers whose work appears in The Times are not in violation of our
policies.
Staff members covered by the Guild Agreement are not to engage in outside
activities which (1) consist of or include services performed for any medium
in competition with The Times, (2) exploit their connection with The Times,
or (3) are performed for any noncompetitive employer to the embarrassment
of The Times businesswise. These guidelines are intended to clarify
the provisions of that Agreement. Should there be any conflict between
application of these guidelines and the Guild Agreement, the Guild Agreement
shall prevail. Any dispute as to application of these guidelines
to staff members covered by that Agreement shall be resolved pursuant to
the Guild Agreement.
General standards
Fundamental for staff members of The Times is the obligation to perform
their duties as the professionals they are. Interpretation of what
conduct is appropriate in any particular situation is based upon professional
responsibility. In no instance shall individual interests conflict
with or appear to conflict with staff members' professional duties at The
Times. The integrity of this newspaper evolves from the integrity
of each member of the staff.
Each of us is to avoid impropriety, conflicts of interest or the appearance
of impropriety or conflicts of interest.
Misuse of employee status
Staff members should not use their connections with The Times to receive
any benefit or advantage in commercial transactions or for other personal
gain.
Example: it is improper to use The Times stationery to write a personal
complaint to a merchant or public agency. In a personal complaint
situation or business transaction, avoid any implication that you are acting
for The Times or threatening to use your newspaper connections for personal
gain.
Employment and outside interests
The first obligation of staff members is to perform the duties for which
they are employed by The Times.
Any outside employment should not put the staff member in a possible
conflict of interest. In any such other employment, a staff member's
title or assignment at The Times is not to be exploited.
There is a risk of conflict of interest or the appearance of such conflict
of interest in work in publicity or public relations, whether paid or unpaid,
in involvement in boards of directors, committees, etc., even of charitable
and/or social-welfare organizations, or in accepting appointments to boards
and commissions having to do with public policy. Therefore, staff
members should advise an editor of any involvement or affiliation which
might result in a conflict of interests. Staff members should not
serve as official scorers or contest judges or have other official involvement
in an event the newspaper is covering. Staff members faced with such
invitations or personal interests should advise, as appropriate, the editor,
managing editor or editorial-page editor.
(Please see Addendum for Seattle Times policy concerning outside activity
involving competing media and ownership of work product.)
Free-lancing
Free-lancing for publications not in direct competition with The Times
usually is permissible. Staff members writing or photographing on
a continuing basis for a noncompetitive newspaper or magazine should advise
the editor or managing editor for the News Department staff and the editorial-page
editor for the Editorial Department staff of such continuing relationships.
Contests
Staff members may not enter articles or photographs published in The
Times in contests that are not sponsored by professional journalistic organizations.
An exception would be a contest of journalistic excellence sponsored by
a foundation deemed by the appropriate editors previously listed to be
free of commercial or self-serving interests. No awards of significant
value may be accepted from any organizations other than those just described.
Investment
A staff member could embarrass The Times businesswise and exploit his
or her connection with The Times by having a business relationship with
a news source or by making news decisions that involve businesses in which
he or she has a personal investment. Staff members with investments
or stock holdings in corporations should avoid making news decisions that
involve those corporations.
Staff members should advise an editor if they are uncertain about the
possibility of conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest
in business relations or personal investments.
Example: If a reporter were assigned to cover a Utility Commission hearing
on an electric company's rate increase and that reporter owned stock in
the utility, the reporter should let his or her editor know of the investment.
Political activity
Our profession demands impartiality. If a staff member is a candidate
for public office, whether the office is nonpartisan or unpaid, or is working,
for pay or as a volunteer, in a political campaign or organization or has
a close relative (spouse, parent, child, brother or sister) in a political
campaign or organization, the staff member should not report on or make
news judgments about such a campaign or organization. A staff member
should advise his or her editor before reporting on or making news judgments
about campaigns or organizations if there is a possibility of a conflict
of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest.
A staff member should not display in the News or Editorial Departments
candidate posters or placards supporting or denouncing a candidate, political
party or public issue. To do so could give the impression, intended
or not, of partiality.
Relationships
A member of The Times staff should not write or photograph or make news
judgment about any individual related to him or her (spouse, parent, child,
sibling or in-laws), or with whom the staff member has a close personal
relationship.
Travel
Free trips are prohibited except in the rarest of circumstances, and
then only with the approval, as appropriate, of the editor, managing editor
or editorial-page editor. All expenses - transportation, lodging,
meals and incidentals - involved in travel for news coverage or background
information will be paid by The Times.
If airlines or cruise firms won't accept payment for inaugural flights
or maiden voyages, such trips will not be taken.
Staff members may not use their Times connections to solicit trips or
special press rates or press fares from airlines or other transport or
from travel organizations, hotels, agencies and domestic or foreign governments.
Some possible exceptions that would require the approval, as appropriate,
of the editor, managing editor or editorial-page editor:
If an airline or cruise firm is under the control of a totalitarian
government or any other government which refuses to allow payment and if
the inaugural flight or maiden voyage is of compelling news value, the
appropriate editor previously mentioned would waive the rule.
Either of the three editors may, as appropriate, approve a reduced-fare
trip or special travel arrangement if it is the only way to complete an
assignment, such as when military transport is involved or when a staff
member needs to be aboard a press plane of an athletic team or political
candidate.
In case of the team or candidate plane, the newspaper would ask to be
billed for the shared cost involved.
Staff members are to use common sense and discretion in emergency situations.
Example: If there is a shipping disaster off the Coast and a military
helicopter is the only transportation available, the staff members covering
the story could accept the ride if there's no time to communicate for approval
from an editor. However, an editor should be informed of the circumstances
as soon as possible after return to the office.
Another example: if a Boeing plane is on its first flight and a Times
reporter and photographer are offered places on a chase plane - the only
plane allowed in the area by the Federal Aviation Administration - we could
accept the invitation with the approval of the editor or managing editor.
This is another example of altering the rule when the news value is of
compelling significance.
Tickets
We pay our own expenses to cover the news.
Reporters, photographers and editors assigned to cover sports, other
spectator events or political events for spot news or future use of information
may use press boxes, review seats, press rooms and other special facilities.
However, The Times wants to pay for its share of such accommodations and
will wherever possible.
When possible, staff members should pay for tickets and food and refreshments
served at such events.
It is improper for staff members who are not on assignment to attend
events as nonpaying spectators or to accept free meals provided by sports,
political or other newssource organizations.
Free tickets or passes to sports events, movies, theatrical productions,
fairs, circuses, ice shows and other events for which the public pays shall
not be accepted by staff members and their families. When tickets
to such events are delivered to a Times editor, the tickets should be returned
with a letter courteously declining them and with an explanation of our
policy.
Staff members who attend the events for professional reasons will pay
for tickets and will be reimbursed by The Times.
Nightclub admission or cover charges and costs of meals and other refreshments
incurred in professional work will be paid by The Times.
When it is socially awkward or even impossible to pay for a meal, refreshments
or entertainment, a staff member should use good judgment in how far to
go in insisting on paying. When someone insists on buying a staff
member a meal or a drink, the staff member should try to reciprocate at
a later date.
Gifts
We accept no work-connected gifts or gratuities of significant value.
We don't accept free lodging, sample merchandise, special press rates or
any other reduced rate or no-pay arrangements not available to the general
public.
Gifts of insignificant value - key chain, pencil holder, calendar, etc.
- may be kept if it's awkward to return them.
Gifts of significant value will be returned to the donor with an explanation
of our policy. Where it is impractical to return a gift, it will
be given to a charity.
Gifts of liquor, wine and beer are considered of more than token value
and may not be kept.
Books and records
Books and records sent to The Times for review are considered to be
news handouts or releases. They are not to be sold.
A book, a record or a tape may be kept by the person to whom it is assigned
for review. Books and recordings not reviewed are to go to departmental
editors, then to the editor's secretary. Staff members may then check
out the material from the newsroom lending library. Periodically,
the accumulated books and recordings will be sent to charity organizations.
Books of reference value (arts, sciences, architecture, medicine, etc.)
that would be helpful to a reporter or editor dealing with such subjects
may be kept in such specialists' files at The Times.
Memberships
Staff members may not accept free or reduced-rate memberships in private
clubs or other organizations when such memberships involve or appear to
involve a staff member's position at The Times. The Times will pay
the costs when such memberships are considered by The Times to be necessary
for news or editorial purposes.
Use of products
Because of their Times status, staff members sometimes are offered free
or reduced-rate purchase of products, merchandise or services not available
to the general public. Staff members should not take advantage of
such offers. If there is felt to be a need for clarification, staff
members should review the policy with an appropriate editor. Examples
of such products include cameras or other photographic equipment and supplies,
automobiles, boats, furniture, sporting goods, appliances and clothing.
With the permission, as appropriate, of the editor, managing editor, or
editorial-page editor, a staff member may use for a short time a product
to test or evaluate it for news or feature articles or for photography.
Performing services for competing medium
1. No staff member, except when acting in the capacity of a member or
officer of the Guild. may appear on a competing broadcasting medium or
supply material to a competing print medium without prior approval from
his or her department head. Approval normally will not be given if
the appearance or material constitutes performing services for the competing
medium unless it serves the interests of The Seattle Times.
2. Examples of such normally prohibited work include:
a) Performing services as a panelist on a television or radio program.
b) Performing services as a professional specialist (e.g., politics,
religion. science. medicine. drama, visual arts, films, sports, etc.),
including interviews before, during, or after sporting events.
3. Approval normally will be given for:
a) Appearance on any broadcast medium which would, in the opinion of
the management, serve or promote the interests of The Seattle Times.
If approval is given, time spent on such appearances shall be considered
working time and The Seattle Times will compensate staff members accordingly.
Any compensation received by staff members from outside sources for such
appearances will normally be deducted from, and offset against, any compensation
payable by The Seattle Times for such appearances.
b) Appearances on any broadcasting medium to respond to questions involving
newsworthy events involving The Seattle Times, such as a labor dispute,
demonstration, lawsuit, award, comic selection, circulation growth, new
technology, etc.
c) Appearing on any public-broadcasting medium or submitting material
to nonadvertising publications such as church periodicals, university publications,
and scholarly journals.
Ownership of work product
Under the federal Copyright Act, any material produced by a Seattle
Times employee that is within the scope of his or her employment is considered
"work for hire," whether or not published in The Seattle Times, and copyright
belongs to The Seattle Times. Such material may not be sold, licensed,
or otherwise authorized for republication except by permission of The Seattle
Times and on such terms as it may specify as copyright owner.
