Code of Ethics

Version 2.0

Updated: October 27th 2016

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Preamble

This document has been created to make sure that all staff and reporters, herein called “members”, of The Guildwoodian, herein called “the organization”, adhere to the organizations ethical guidelines and that the organizations ethical guidelines are clearly available to its readers. This document has been assembled with sources from the Canadian Association of Journalists “Ethics Guidelines”.

 

Our Promises to Readers

• We will verify all our facts.

• We will retain the original context of all quotes.

• If we borrow any part of a story from another source we will always rewrite the ideas and name the source.

• When we make a mistake, we will correct it in a timely and transparent manner and we will acknowledge the error.

• We will not remove published materials.

• We will not let our biases impair fair reporting.

• We do not pay for information.

• We will generally name all sources, except in a case where anonymity is requested. (See “Our Promise to Sources)

• We will clearly identify news and opinion.

• We will not alter photos or videos of news events. Videos of interviews may be edited to cut out gaps in the conversation and to add titles.

• We do not re-post rumors.

• We will strive to ensure the accuracy of exterior links in our material

 

Our Promise to Subjects

• We respect the rights of people involved in the news.

• We will give people, organizations or companies, herein called subjects, the chance to respond to accusations and criticisms before publishing.

• If the subject does not comment, we will state that in the article.

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Our Promise to Sources

• We will keep names of sources confidential if requested by the source.

• We will standby confidentiality unless it becomes necessary to reveal a source under applicable law.

• In cases where the source is making claims about law authorities, and it becomes necessary to reveal a source under applicable law, we will evaluate the situation on a case by case basis.

• If a comment is “Off the Record” then we will not publish it.

 

Independence

We serve the public interest by reporting the truth. This sometimes conflicts with various public and private interests, including those of sources, governments & advertisers. We do not give favoured treatment to advertisers and special interests. We resist their efforts to influence the news.

 

Conflict of Interest

Credibility is lost when we publish about an organization we are a part of. We will strive to note any actual and perceived conflicts of interest, and where possible avoid publishing all together.