Gazette Ethics Code
Statement of Purpose
The Gazette is a weekly student-run publication that aims to provide a fair and accuratereflection of the Dalhousie community.
1
The purposes of The Dalhousie Gazette Publishing Society are:
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To publish a democratically-run newspaper with the purpose of providinginformation on, and an impartial analysis of, a broad range of subject matter for Dalhousie students and the surrounding community
2
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To present an alternative to the news coverage of the traditional and commercial press
3
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To provide Dalhousie students with a forum in which they can inclusivelycontribute to public dialogue
4
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To hold those organizations and individuals that affect students accountable
5
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To recognize laziness and bad journalism as our adversary
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To foster a sense of community by encouraging Dalhousie and King’s Collegestudents to contribute ideas, writing, illustrations and photos
6
Responsible Reporting
Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors strive to be truthful, accurate and fair.
7
Our duty is to provide the public with factual, objective information. In the interest of our readers, Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors must be courageous inseeking, interpreting and presenting information.
8
Gazette staff members and editors must be diligent in ensuring published information is true and free of bias. Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors should:
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Strive to seek and report the truth; Truth is fact, free of bias
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Report objectively and provide context
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Never distort facts or oversimplify
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Never misrepresent by omitting information
1
The Dalhousie Gazette
, Opinions; www.dalgazette.com
2
The Gazette Constitution
3
The Gazette Constitution
4
The Gazette Constitution
5
Guiding Principles for the Journalist
; Bob Steele
6
The Martlet
Statement of Purpose, University of Victoria, www.martlet.ca
7
Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics
,
Guiding Principles for the Journalist
; Bob Steele
8
Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics
●
Never alter quotes or photos
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Never falsify information or plagiarize
Plagiarism
Dalhousie University and The Gazette define
plagiarism
as:
“The presentation of the work of another author in such a way as to give one's reader reason to think it to be one's own.”
9
That little number indicates that this definition is taken from Dalhousie’s PlagiarismPolicy. But The Gazette doesn’t use footnotes. Instead we indicate our sources directly,spelling them out for the reader. We use quotations to indicate spoken or written phrasesthat are not our own. When we summarize a source’s words, we attribute. The Gazettedoes not print any writing that presents plagiarism, intentionally or unintentionally, because we would be lying to our readers.Gazette staff and contributors must never submit plagiarized work. Plagiarism is a seriousoffense. The Gazette reserves the right to print the name of anyone who plagiarizes. Wewill do so because it is in our readers’ best interest to know if we have lied to them by publishing plagiarized work.If a staff member, reporter or contributor is ever in doubt that his or her writing is fullysourced, he or she should not hesitate to consult a superior editor, The Gazette StyleGuide or Dalhousie’s Plagiarism Policy.
Drugs and Alcohol
There are no good reasons to mix drugs and alcohol with interviewing, writing or reporting. Drugs and alcohol inarguably affect our memory, judgment and perceptionand lead to skewed or fabricated details and vague writing. Any mind-altering substanceshould be avoided during all aspects of reporting.Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors do not need drugs or alcohol to do our jobs. Though we may perceive that these substances cause us to become more outgoing,social or articulate, indulging in them may sacrifice our credibility in the eyes of peer journalists and sources. When a source loses respect for a journalist, his or her quotes andinformation change. He or she may even refuse to go on the record, or refuse to speak atall, for fear of being misrepresented.Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors represent a serious publication whenwe are interviewing, reporting or writing. The credibility of The Gazette is at stake whena representative of the publication decides to indulge in drugs or alcohol while on the job.The Gazette therefore reserves the right to refuse the publication of any article that has been produced under the influence of a mind-altering substance.
Just One?
9
www.plagiarism.dal.ca
Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors should strive to avoid indulging inthe “just one” justification. Just one beer may not affect us enough that we forget keydetails and quotes, but it may cause us to neglect another aspect of our journalisticresponsibilities. We might not make mistakes the first or even the second time, but whenwe justify having one drink on the job it becomes easier to justify more than one drink next time.
Bias
Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors should strive to remove personal viewsand biases from their work. This includes striving to remove biases and assumptions frominterview questions. We all have bias and it is truly impossible to fully eradicate bias. Toensure that our writing does not mislead our readers, we must always disclose personal bias in print. Transparency is in the reader’s best interest.Gazette staff, reporters and contributors should:
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Avoid imposing personal values on readers
10
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Never stereotype
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Never assume or draw conclusions about race, ethnicity, gender, social status,sexual orientation, disability or appearance
11
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Always disclose bias
12
Articles in the Opinions section are no exception to these recommendations. Argumentsand opinions must be backed up by named sources and attributed facts. Any bias or conflict of interest must be disclosed.
Conflicts of Interest
By avoiding obligations that might compromise duty to the public interest, journalistscan protect themselves from damaged integrity and slanted reporting.
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Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors must strive to work free of obligations or biasesthat might compromise objectivity.
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Gazette staff members should strive to accustomamateur Gazette contributors to working independently. When we are free of conflicts of interest, we are loyal only to our readers.
15
Gazette staff members, reporters and contributors should:
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Recognize obligations that might compromise journalistic integrity
10
Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics
11
Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics
12
Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics
13
Guiding Principles for the Journalist
; Bob Steele
14
Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics
15
Society of Professional Journalists; Code of Ethics
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