Ethics Policy

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TECH INDUSTRY LLC

TECH INDUSTRY LLC is committed to the highest ethical standards.

Fairness and accuracy are among our core values. But perhaps nothing stands above the need for the news organization to maintain and preserve its integrity. The public’s trust in our work — our most important asset — depends on it.

This evolving document is meant to provide general guidance to TECH INDUSTRY LLC staffers on the many difficult ethical questions that arise in the course of doing our jobs. But because not every situation can be anticipated, it is useful to keep two particular guidelines in mind.

1) None of us should act in ways that could damage the organization’s credibility.

2) Any situation that raises questions of credibility ought to be discussed with an editor. None of us should decide such issues alone.

We are all collectively responsible for ethical standards. Any employee who is aware that a fellow staff member has committed ethical violations should immediately bring the matter to the attention of a ranking editor.

TECH INDUSTRY LLC recognizes that while there are many black-and-white issues easily resolved, there also are many that involve shades of gray. Not every question needs to be brought to the immediate attention of a ranking editor. Questions often can, and should be, discussed openly and thoroughly with members of the newsroom. Avoid “doing” ethics alone. Collaboration produces better decisions.

Professional Activities and Standards

Fairness, Accuracy and Corrections

TECH INDUSTRY LLC strives to operate with fairness, accuracy and independence.

Whenever possible, the TECH INDUSTRY LLC seeks opposing views and solicits responses from those whose conduct is questioned in news stories.

While it is our responsibility to accurately report the news we know, and as soon as possible after breaking the news, we should update what we can from an opposing side or more background. If the opposing side can’t be reached, we should say that. We should also foster a spirit of fairness in the tone of our coverage. An opposing side shouldn’t necessarily be expected to provide cogent and thoughtful responses to complex issues instantaneously. Developing stories must indicate they will continue to be updated with “More to come” or similar phrasing.

We must strive to create balance in all of our coverage with a sense of immediacy.

All errors shall be acknowledged promptly in a straightforward manner, never disguised or glossed over in a follow-up story. Only in rare circumstances, with approval from the Executive Editor, should an attempt be made to remove erroneous content (or content published inadvertently) from the web. When errors are made online, we should correct the errors and indicate that the story has been updated to correct an error or clarify what it says. We always acknowledge our mistakes and set the record straight in a transparent manner.

In considering requests to remove accurate information from our public archives, we should consider not only the person’s interest in suppressing the content but also the public’s interest in knowing the information. Circumstances will guide the decision and must be approved by the Executive Editor. Our policy is not to remove published content from our archives, but we want archives to be accurate, complete and up-to-date, so we will update and correct archived content as needed, including headlines.

Clarifications should be made when a story, photograph, video, caption, editorial, etc. creates a false impression of fact.

A correction or clarification should repeat the original error only if omitting that information fails to provide necessary context for understanding the correction/clarification. For example, a correction such as “The name of Joe Editorowski was incorrectly spelled in a story about the TECH INDUSTRY LLC” is sufficient in print. It is not necessary to repeat the original error. Corrections/clarifications should be appended to the original story online and be located in a consistent place in print.

When there is a question over whether a correction, clarification or removal of story or photo is necessary, bring the matter to an editor.

Reporters or photographers ought to identify themselves to news sources. In the rare instance when circumstances suggest not identifying ourselves, the Executive Editor or appropriate senior editor must be consulted for approval.

Editors must not plagiarize, whether it is the wholesale lifting of someone else’s writing, or the publication of a press release as news without attribution. TECH INDUSTRY LLC editors are responsible for their research, just as they are for their reporting. The inadvertent publication of another’s work does not excuse the plagiarism. Plagiarism will result in serious disciplinary action, and may include termination.

Confidentiality and Unidentified Sources

Agreements about anonymity should be ironed out with sources in advance. Make sure sources understand the ground rules: What information can be attributed to the source and what can not be attributed? What is off-the-record, meaning what information cannot be published unless confirmed through another source.

In general, we should avoid the use of unnamed sources in stories. We will attribute information to unnamed sources only when news value warrants and it cannot be obtained any other way.

When we choose to rely on unnamed sources, we will avoid letting them be the sole basis for any story. We will not allow unnamed sources to make personal attacks. We should describe the unnamed source in as much detail as possible to indicate the source’s credibility. And we should tell readers the reason the source requested or was given anonymity.

A reporter must identify any unnamed source to his or her editor and the editor must ask for the identity of any unnamed source used in the story. The use of unnamed sources is subject to approval by the Executive Editor.

To the extent possible, we should apply our own standards to the use of unnamed sources in stories produced by other newspapers or wire services. In cases where there are significant conflicts between the attribution of information in the wire story and the TECH INDUSTRY LLC policy on unattributed sources, an effort should be made to contact the originating news agency for more information.

Under no circumstance does the TECH INDUSTRY LLC pay for information.

Use of Names / Descriptions

When law enforcement or other officials identify a person who has been arrested, that person can be identified by TECH INDUSTRY LLC outlets. In some instances, a person might not be named until charged.

Juveniles should not be identified unless they are to be tried as adults, or their alleged crime is deemed particularly newsworthy. Such a decision should be made in consultation with an editor.

Once a person is named in our reporting, TECH INDUSTRY LLC should make every effort to report on the ultimate adjudication of the case.

TECH INDUSTRY LLC generally does not name victims of sexual assaults.

Physical descriptions of suspects should be published only if they are of sufficient specificity that they can be useful in identification.

Social Media Identities / Use

Social media accounts should be clearly branded with the name of the news organization, either at the local level or with TECH INDUSTRY LLC.

An employee of TECH INDUSTRY LLC should refrain from endorsing entities in which they cover or have direct contact. Retweets, sharing of posts or “+1” indicators do not constitute endorsements.

Official TECH INDUSTRY LLC social media profiles should clearly and prominently indicate the account is representative of our news organization, in addition to including the name of the editors’s home-base publication — or the TECH INDUSTRY LLC — in the profile or locational information as allowed by the social media entity.

TECH INDUSTRY LLC editors are expected to maintain professional decorum on their personal and work social media accounts, just as they would be expected to conduct themselves professionally when representing the news organization in public. Foremost, they should remain cognizant of the public nature of social media.

They should consider themselves a representative of the company in all public interactions.

TECH INDUSTRY LLC editors should always source the information they are pushing out via social media. If they are not the original source, they need to make sure that they reference who/what that source is.

TECH INDUSTRY LLC editors will delete incorrect posts.

TECH INDUSTRY LLC editors are allowed to break news via social media, especially in competitive situations. However, they should carefully consider their overall reporting approach, using social media reporting to augment and not substitute for the writing of stories.. The goal is to ensure our reporting is published accurately across all channels.

Social Media in Breaking News Coverage

When breaking news via social media, the initial post must be sourced, and the journalist must make it clear whether they are at the scene or not. If they are not at the scene, they must clearly — and repeatedly — source the information they are getting about the event.

In the event the reporter wants to post on their own social media information attributed to an anonymous source, they must adhere to the guidelines in the “Confidentiality and Unidentified Sources” section of this document. If anything is going to be pushed out anonymously sourced, an editor must be involved in the decision. Nothing should be published before a discussion takes place.

Copying and pasting alone is not acceptable.

Quotations and Attribution

Quotations should always be the exact words that someone spoke, with the exception of minor corrections in grammar and syntax. Parentheses within quotations are almost never appropriate and can almost always be avoided. Ellipses should also be avoided.

We generally should explain when a quote was received in a manner other than an interview: via email, in a prepared statement, in a televised press conference. In cases where we conduct an interview through a translator, we should identify quotes received in that manner.

A reporter should not make it sound as if a source made a statement to the reporter if, in fact, it came to us through a third party.

Bylines, Datelines and Credit Lines

Bylines, datelines and credit lines should accurately convey to readers the source of reporting. All stories, including briefs, should have a byline and contact information for the writer so readers know who to contact if there is an error or issue.

In multiple bylines, the first name generally should be that of the reporter who wrote the article, or if different, of the largest contributor. Any reporter who contributed substantively to a story should be included in the byline. Contributor lines should be reserved for those who provided small slices of reporting, such as a single quote or two, for a story.

When a editor writes an article based in part on wire service reports and in part on the reporter’s own work, the article should carry the reporter’s byline and a credit to the wire service in a tagline. If the editor independently reports the facts of the story, the byline can stand alone. If the reporter simply inserts some local material, the byline should be the originating source with a reporter’s credit at the end.

When adding a wire-service quote to a story, particularly if it is exclusive information or an anonymous quote, indicate the source: “Interesting facts about plane,” Ikon News.

Visual Imaging and Editing

Visual journalists and those who manage visual news productions are accountable for upholding the following standards in their daily work:

Strive to make images that report truthfully, honestly and objectively. Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.

Aside from portraits and illustrations, never set up photographs or videos or manipulate news events. Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects. Images that are altered by the photographer or designer for illustration purposes must be labeled as such.

Treat all subjects with respect and dignity.

Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images’ content and context. Do not manipulate images (still or video) or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects. Be truthful and accurate in your captioning.

Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.

Reproducing images from print and online publications is sometimes acceptable if the context of the printed page or screen grab is included and the story is about the image and the use in said publication. Editor discussion and approval is required.

Harvesting images from television media requires agreement between the television station and our publication. Frame grabs must be of images made by the station’s staff. Source credit must accompany the image.

All photographs are, by definition, copyrighted by the person or entity that made or owns the image. We therefore should not publish images taken from the web or other digital sources without permission of the copyright holder except in circumstances that require approval by a ranking editor. Exceptions are media sites, such as those of sports leagues that provide images for media dissemination, and sites of public agencies (such as cities, counties, state and federal departments). Any photos pulled from social media should be first vetted by an editor so that all verification efforts and processes are discussed and followed.

Every effort will be made to know and adhere to the video policy of the venue we are covering ahead of live coverage. If the video policies are prohibitive, there should be discussion on how to proceed with coverage.

TECH INDUSTRY LLC prohibits the use of news photographs or video by political campaigns or any advocacy group. Likewise, TECH INDUSTRY LLC journalism generally is not to be used for any commercial purpose (other than our own). Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the executive editor for educational textbooks/purposes or for historical accounts. TECH INDUSTRY LLC journalism should not be compromised by becoming a part of any candidate or group’s political campaign, or used for a money-making venture by an outside organization.