San Antonio Express-News ethics code

Preamble

It is our mission to be the most trusted, respected and accurate source of news and information in the community that we serve. As employees, our fundamental principle is to maintain the integrity of our product.

Integrity is key. We must maintain high journalistic standards in all products we offer to the community. When we err, we should correct the error as quickly as possible.

These principles should serve as a guideline to all editorial employees for appropriate professional conduct. With these principles, and the advice of supervisors, employees should be able to find answers that allow them to remain in compliance with the company's standards. Part-timers and contract workers are expected to follow the same principles. Freelancers are not bound by all parts of this policy, but serve at the pleasure of the Express-News. Editors should require freelancers to conduct themselves with integrity while representing the Express-News.

A copy of these principles will be distributed to every editorial employee. All employees must sign acknowledgements that they have received these principles and that they are expected to abide by them.

Accountability

Journalists and all newsroom employees or staff members are accountable to their readers and to each other. They should:

  • Admit mistakes and correct them promptly. Abide by the same ethical standards, such as avoiding the appearance of conflicts of interest and maintaining their integrity, to which we hold others.
  • Use discretion in internal and external correspondence. For example, don't use defamatory language in such communications that could be forwarded outside the office or transmitted to a third party.

Truthfulness and accuracy

Express-News employees, whether their work is published in the newspaper or online at MySA.com, including blogs, should work in good faith with sources and readers to ensure the news is fair, accurate and free from bias. They should:

  • Never deliberately distort information.
  • Avoid stereotyping of any group — by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, social status or geography. Be attentive to the impact on your work of any personal biases.
  • Not mislead the reader with staged news events or photos. Illustrations should be labeled as such. This includes audio and video for MySA.com.
  • Avoid misleading methods of collecting information. Do not misrepresent yourself. If an undercover method is used, explain it in the story. (Restaurant reviewers are an exception to this rule. Restaurant reviewers prefer to remain anonymous to receive the same experience the average diner receives.)
  • Use professional judgment in deciding whether to tell a source that the interview is being recorded. Texas is a “one-party” consent state and, legally, you may record without the other party's consent. As a courtesy, you may want to inform the source you are recording them, but disclosure is not required. However, you must inform the source, in advance of recording, if the tape will be broadcast online or on radio or television. Also, some states require both parties to consent to taping. When conducting an interstate phone interview, tell the other party in advance if you are taping. If there is a question, consult with an editor or these Web sites:
    • http://www.rcfp.org/taping/interstate.html
    • http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/recordcalls.html

Independence

The Express-News and its staff should be free of obligations to news sources and newsmakers, avoiding even the appearance of conflict of interest. Journalists — and other news department employees – should cover news on its own merits without regard to advertising or other outside influence. The following guidelines are examples of how journalists here should conduct themselves. If you have questions or doubts about any action, consult a supervisor.

Gift-taking and similar activity

  • Don't allow a source to pick up your meal tab — exceptions include regularly scheduled meals in which you alternate picking up the tab, or where payment for food is impossible, such as in the press box while covering a game.
  • Don't pay for news items. Use press credentials to gain access to events (games, movie previews, banquets, speeches, etc.) or the paper will pay for the ticket when appropriate.
  • Avoid free food. If we attend events where meals are served, we should make every effort to pay for our own meals.
  • Don't use free tickets or passes for events open to the public for an admission fee for personal pleasure or that of family or friends. (The exceptions are ones that come from Human Resources or Marketing with prior approval from newsroom management.)
  • Don't drink alcohol at an event that you are covering unless you are a food/wine writer, and then only in moderation.
  • Don't accept gifts or promotional items of $20 or more that give the appearance of being requests for “payment.” What can't be returned will be donated to local charities through the office of the editor or the managing editor. If a gift is perishable (such as food baskets), place it in a central location to be shared within the newsroom. A letter to the giver suggesting such gifts are unnecessary is appropriate.
  • Don't accept free travel offers. The Express-News should make every reasonable effort to pay for transportation if a story is newsworthy. We will consider partial or full funding of fellowships for training purposes, provided underwriting organization is sufficiently independent from government or industry funding. Always check with your supervisor before applying for a fellowship.
  • Pay a fair rate for all travel stories. This includes freelancers and staffers doing travel stories on company time or personal time (for freelance pay).
  • Never receive review or promotional materials at a home address except with prior approval of an editor. It is acceptable to keep materials such as books, videos or CDs if reviewing them. Otherwise such materials will be distributed appropriately as newsroom reference materials or donated to a charitable cause. Never resell said materials. (Exception: a sale of such materials, organized through the newspaper, with all proceeds going to charity.)

Work outside the Express-News

  • Work product (stories, photos, videos, recordings, graphics, etc.) produced by staff members during the course of their duties is the property of the San Antonio Express-News and cannot be used by any other publication or Web site, including a staffer's personal site, without proper authorization. A link to the material is permitted.
  • Don't take freelance assignments or appear in other media without first consulting your immediate supervisor. Don't do freelance work on company time.
  • Don't accept a stipend for speaking or judging without your assistant managing editor's approval. Do not accept a speaking assignment through a company or entity you cover without clearing it with your immediate supervisor.

Personal relationships

  • Do not assign, report, edit, illustrate or photograph a story about an event or issue in which a family member or close friend is involved or has a personal, financial or political interest except with your supervisor's prior permission. If there is even the appearance of a conflict, disclose any such relationship in print.

Financial investments

  • Don't invest in companies or mutual funds — with the exception of 401(k) funds -- that you cover or are likely to cover as a reporter, columnist or photojournalist. Editors should not let their stock or fund holdings influence news judgments. Business staff should take special care to avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance of same.

Community involvement

The Express-News understands its employees are also members of a community and as such may want to be involved in community organizations. It is understood that such activity makes for a well-rounded individual and a better citizen, but employees of the Express-News should avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of such, whether your interest in the event/cause is corporate or personal. The guidelines below are to help employees ensure that they are helping maintain the integrity of the Express-News:

  • Remember when participating in such organizations that you are doing so as an individual on your own time and not as an employee of the Express-News. Make sure that co-participants also understand this distinction.
  • Membership in professional journalism groups is allowed, as is serving on the boards with your supervisor's approval.
  • Membership in and volunteer work for organizations — such as church groups, school PTA organizations, alumni groups, neighborhood associations, athletic organizations — is up to the individual employee. However, you should avoid membership in groups that would create an appearance of a conflict of interest. For example, an environmental reporter should not join environmental advocacy groups. If you have doubt about whether membership would create a conflict, consult your supervisor. If events occur that could create an appearance of a conflict of interest, advise your supervisor promptly. For example, if your homeowner's association sues the city — thus becoming a newsmaker — your supervisor needs to know of your ties to the association.
  • Do not promote events in the paper in which you have a role. As a general rule, if you are part of an event (emcee, organizer, etc.), you shouldn't write about it.
  • Generally, the level of coverage of charitable events should reflect the uniqueness of the event, the number of people who participate in and benefit from the charity and the amount of money raised by the event. If the Express-News is a significant sponsor of an event, that should be disclosed in any coverage.

Political activity

The Express-News understands its employees are citizens of a democracy and as such have obligations to fulfill, including voting in any and all elections. However, we also have a duty to society — to provide impartial coverage of all political activity.

Employees have a special obligation to uphold that impartiality by following these guidelines. If you are in doubt, consult a supervisor. If the Express-News has an interest in an issue, say, legislation dealing with a shield law, the story must state the newspaper's stance and actions it has taken regarding the issue, such as hiring a lobbyist.

  • Employees should not make contributions to or work for political parties or candidates or have direct involvement with entities organized to advocate for candidate, a political party or a solely political issue. If you're unsure, first consult with your supervisor.
  • Don't participate as an activist in political rallies, marches or demonstrations or make a public display of your political stances by posting a yard sign or bumper sticker promoting a specific candidate or issue.
  • Don't attend primary election party caucuses. If you're unsure, consult with your supervisor.
  • Don't run for or accept appointment to any public office.
  • Don't sign a petition that involves your beat or raises a perception of a conflict of interest. If you're unsure, consult with your supervisor.

Attribution

 

  • Never plagiarize — the deliberate submission and/or usage of another person's words, images or graphics without attribution to the original source taints the credibility and reputation of the offender and the Express-News.
  • Always ask yourself, “Am I submitting original words, images and overall content?” If in doubt, review your material for any questionable segments and attribute them appropriately.
  • If information is available only from one source, note the source immediately.
  • When inserting information verbatim, place the copied information in quotation marks and note the source immediately.
  • Only use a quote from another publication if you attribute it to that publication.
  • If reporting is heavily reliant on the EX-Files, cite the source, i.e., “as reported by the Express-News in 1997.” Be sure to check on subsequent developments that may not have been reported in the Express-News.
  • Where relevant, indicate if information comes from a news release or e-mail.
  • Credit any Express-News reporter, news researcher, photographer or other journalist who contributed significantly to your story in a byline or shirttail, whichever is appropriate.
  • Dateline a story only if a bylined writer reported from the location. If a contributing writer reported from elsewhere, explain so in a shirttail. For example: “Staff Writer Jane Doe contributed to this story from Brownsville.”
  • If using multiple sources for a story, name all the wire services in the tagline. The phrase “wire services contributed” is inadequate.
  • For photos, use a specific credit line. Generic attributions such as “Special to the Express-News” should be used in conjunction with naming the source.
  • For graphics, name all sources.

Adherence to the principles

Employment as an editorial staff member requires acceptance of these principles and all employees should read, understand and sign the policy. Violations could result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, oral or written warnings, suspension with or without pay, or termination.

If you believe there has been an unreported violation of these principles, you should report said breach of trust — without fear of retaliation — to a senior editor (assistant managing editor or higher) or to the public editor.

As ethics are a key part of maintaining our professional integrity on a daily basis, the Express-News ethics committee will reconvene as needed and members remain available to answer employee questions, especially since all specific scenarios are not addressed in this document. Committee members, however, have no authority to make or review personnel and/or news decisions.

Ethics Committee members: Dan Balcar, Todd Bensman, Terry Bertling, Charles Blount, Albert H. Carter, Dino Chiecchi, Sig Christenson, Julie E. Domel, Amy Dorsett, Roger Downing, September Downing, Kevin Frazzini, Angela Grant, John W. Griffin, Jennifer D. Hiller, Paula Hunt, Abe Levy, William Luther, Gary Martin, Ray Minor, Gary Newsom, Tracie Quinn, Amanda Reimherr, Bob Richter, Tricia Schwennesen, Matt Thompson, Guillermo Torres and Glenda Wolin.

Links to additional ethics Web sites:

  • Society for Professional Journalists --http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
  • American Library Assoc. — www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/codeofethics/codeethics.htm
  • Project for Excellence in Journalism — www.journalism.org
  • Investigative Reporters and Editors — www.ire.org
  • Society of American Business Editors and Writers -http://www.sabew.com/ethics/RevisedCodeofEthics.htm
  • Poynter Institute -- http://www.poynter.org/subject.asp?id=32
  • National Press Photographers Association -- http://nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.html

STANDARDS AND PRACTICES FOR EXPRESS-NEWS STORIES

The following guidelines are intended to answer questions we often face in our coverage and presentation of stories. The following includes new standards and practices for online journalism, or new media. These guidelines are not hard-and-fast rules and there will be exceptions. When in doubt, check with your immediate editor or a senior editor (an assistant managing editor or above).

New Media

  • Employees who participate in social networking sites and chat rooms should exercise discretion. If you blog, clear your activities with your supervisor if you identify yourself as an Express-News employee. Don't discuss events, companies or other entities you cover as an Express-News employee without disclosing your employment during such discussions and without clearing it with your supervisor.

Blogging

  • Staff bloggers who are not specifically authorized to write their opinions about a topic in the newspaper cannot do so on said topic in a blog or other online forum. Staffers should check with a supervisor with regards to blogging on topics not related to their primary beat or area of expertise.
  • All blogs must be edited by at least one other person before publication. Bloggers and staff members may leave comments -- on their own blogs and on other sites -- but when dealing with an issue that relates to the Express-News in any way, the staffer should clearly identify himself or herself and any writings must be made in a manner befitting representatives of the Express-News. Also, the same rules apply as above: A staffer who isn't authorized to opine about something in the newspaper cannot do so on the same topic anywhere on the Web.
  • No member of the staff shall engage in personal attacks, i.e. “Flame Wars,” on MySA.com or on any other site.
  • Guest bloggers should adhere to the same policies and practices that part-timers and contract workers do.
  • Political blogs are held to the same standards as political reporting published in the newspaper. This includes fact-checking and attribution. It is acceptable to link to other sites, but don't copy their text wholesale within your blog entry. In some cases, a link should include a warning about its acceptability to all audiences.

Social Networking

  • Social networking sites are a legitimate and useful way for 21st century journalists to expand and maintain their list of contacts.
  • Employees should feel free to join and to utilize these sites. However, as with all other rules and guidelines set forth in this ethics and practices policy, maintain your independence, remain free of obligations to news sources, newsmakers and people on your social network and always act with discretion and integrity
  • If you're unsure about the guidelines for social networking, consult with someone at the assistant managing editor level or higher.

Breaking news

  • Transparency is key to handling developing stories. Being clear about where information is coming from and clear about what information has been corrected or changed is of paramount importance.
  • When an error or outdated information is corrected or updated online, whether in a story or a blog, a notation should be placed somewhere on the page giving general information about the correction or update. An example: (Editor's Note: This story was updated to reflect an official change in the death toll from 10 to 9.)

Off-site content

  • Use of off-site content -- content located on another site -- should be kept to a minimum, and must be used in a manner consistent with existing copyright law and Express-News attribution policies.
  • When embedding video, use reasonable care to ensure said video has been posted legally. (For example, instead of using a YouTube video, go to the primary source.) Be careful to avoid copyright infringement.
  • When using content found off-site, the writer must make it extremely clear what content was produced by the writer and which content is from other sources. In all cases where possible, a link back to the source material is required.

Shooting and using video and audio

  • Anyone producing video or audio content for MySA.com should undergo training that includes a refresher on the basics of visual and audio ethics and the law.
  • The ethical standards that relate to the use of images and photographs in print are the same standards that apply to any online presentation of media.
  • While it is discouraged to ask a subject to act out or demonstrate for our cameras, in instances where some form of re-creation or re-enactment is utilized, that fact must be made clear in the presentation itself.
  • When shooting or editing audio or video, words may not be inserted, omitted or rearranged so that the content misleads or changes the intent and context of the subject's interview or action.
  • Use of canned sounds -- such as comedic sound effects -- should be used sparingly and only in a manner that makes it obvious the sounds are not original.
  • Sound or music not recorded at the scene should be used sparingly, but when used, care should be taken to ensure it accurately represents the feeling or emotion that was integral to the story. Don't add emotion that wasn't there.
  • It is acceptable to use video or audio recordings if the subject is aware or has been informed that he or she is being recorded and may be published.
  • Apart from journalistic ethics issues, use of music (even ambient music) may raise legal issues and should not be included without permission from the copyright owner and/or consultation with a senior editor.

Identifying sources, victims or the accused

Juveniles charged with crimes

  • Don't name them unless they are accused of capital murder or a crime so heinous as to warrant their identification, or if the names have been released by authorities. In each case, consult with a senior editor (an assistant managing editor or higher),

Juvenile photo identification

  • We routinely identify children, teens, etc. in photos from parades, festivals, etc. If this is about criminal proceedings, see above.
  • In instances where the identification could endanger the child (such as a photo of a child at the Children's Home or possibly in foster care)that information should be made clear to both a supervising editor and the photo-editing staff.

Can a juvenile give consent?

  • Juveniles who want to go on the record about a crime — as a victim or perpetrator — have that prerogative. Still, editors should weigh carefully the child's mental condition, age and the conduct at issue, and check their own ethical antennae. Again, check with a senior editor.

Naming suspects before they're charged

  • As a general rule, NO! If you are on deadline and the suspect has been arrested in a case and you have a police report to that effect, the suspect could be named.

Unauthorized immigrant

  • The preferred term for a person from another country who illegally enters the United States.

Identification of sexual assault victim

  • NO, unless, of course, the victim wants to be identified and tell her or his story. In that event, editors should weigh carefully the victim's state of mind and motivation and check their own ethical antenna. Again, check with a senior editor.

Unnamed sources

  • Generally speaking, we do not publish stories based on information from unnamed sources. If an important story depends on confidential information, then you should have two or more sources and you must tell the reader why the sources are not being named. Reporters should identify the unnamed source or sources to their editors. If the reporter fails to identify the unnamed source, the editor should ask for the name(s).
  • Editors should evaluate usage on a case-by-case basis and be vigilant in questioning the motives for concealing a source's identity as well as their relevance to the story. Toward that end, anonymous sources should be identified with as much specificity as possible — “a Democratic senator's aide who attended the meeting said” is more credible to the reader than a simple “sources said” or “an official said.”
  • Also, weigh a source's credibility and motives and be wary of shielding a source simply so they can launch personal or partisan attacks.

Unindicted co-conspirators

  • If they are named in the indictment, they can be named. With unindicted individuals it then becomes an ethical issue, depending on the information available from law enforcement officials. See a senior editor if you are confused.

Photos / Captions

Graphic photos

  • As a general rule, don't run them. If they are necessary to illustrate the story (remember the soldier dragged through Mogadishu and the charred bodies hanged from a bridge in Iraq), proceed with caution and the best taste possible. Again, alerting a senior editor to the probable publication of graphic photos is advised.

Photos without identification

  • Only publish as a last resort when the photo is crucial to reporting the story.

Miscellaneous

Suicides

  • Don't publish a story unless the suicide was a public event that warrants coverage on its own or if other special circumstances elevate it to news status — such as if it involves a well-known person. Alert at least the appropriate team leader, if not a senior editor. In obituaries, where readers have a reasonable expectation to learn the cause of death, it is permissible to write the cause of death was self-inflicted.

Transgendered people

  • Use care when identifying transgendered people and use the pronoun that suits the gender they now claim as their identity. For example, a man who dresses as a woman but who has not had a sex-change operation still may prefer to be called a woman. In that instance, we would use the pronouns “she” or “her.”

Expected crowd size for a rally to assign a story and/or photo

  • Forty (strictly arbitrary), but this is a guideline, not a rule. Make a case if there's good reason to staff something smaller; for instance, if it is a provocative gathering by a fringe group such as the KKK, Black Panthers, survivalists, Republic of Texas, etc.

Assigning blame in wrecks, etc.

  • Assigning blame in wreck stories (the SUV slammed into the pickup truck) should be avoided because it invites a lawsuit. Recommended verbiage is “collided with.”

Disabilities

  • Handle disabilities as you would any other characteristic and avoid using disability as a negative label. The rule should be: Think of the person first and the disability second. Don't label someone with a disability as “disabled,” but speak toward the affliction. A story should say a person has a disability, not that the person is disabled. Also, the story should explain, if applicable, how the condition affects the person. Hence, avoid such references as “John Doe is autistic” or “John Doe has worked to overcome being disabled.” Instead, write, “John Doe has autism,” or. “He has worked to overcome a disability.”
  • The first question to ask yourself: Is a person's disability relevant to the story? Don't say, “Scott Sailor, who is blind, was named to the San Antonio River Authority,” any more than we should say, “Scott Sailor, who wears glasses, was named to SARA.”
  • Individuals are people first and should not be labeled by their disability or medical condition. Don't mention a person's disability unless it is relevant to the story. For example, if you interview a student for a story about school lunches, there is no need to note that he or she is in a wheelchair unless it has a direct bearing on the story. Also:
    • “Disability” is preferable to “handicapped.”
    • Don't use the terms “victim of” or “suffering from.” For example, a person has a stroke; he/she is not a stroke victim.
    • Avoid using the term “normal” when referring to people who don't have disabilities. It implies that those who do have disabilities are “abnormal.”
    • For further reference: The National Center on Disability and Journalism at Arizona State's Cronkite School has a style guide (http://ncdj.org/style-guide/) that provides recommendations for writing about individuals with disabilities. The website also offers a tip sheet on how to prepare to interview an individual with a disability.
    • The American Psychological Association's “Guidelines for Non-Handicapping Language in APA Journals” (http://apastyle.apa.org/disabilities.html) provides a thorough guide in avoiding language and expressions that may be offensive or stereotypical when writing about individuals with disabilities.
    • The Media Diversity Institute's “Reporting Diversity Guide” (http://www.media-diversity.org/PDFS/Pages%20from%20PEOPLE%20WITH%20DISA BILITIES.pdf) is a comprehensive guide on the subject and offers case studies.

Community involvement

The Express-News understands its employees are also members of a community and as such may want to be involved in community organizations. It is understood that such activity makes for a well-rounded individual and a better citizen, but employees of the Express-News should avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of such, whether your interest in the event/cause is corporate or personal. The guidelines below are to help employees ensure that they are helping maintain the integrity of the Express-News:

  • Remember when participating in such organizations that you are doing so as an individual on your own time and not as an employee of the Express-News. Make sure that co-participants also understand this distinction.
  • Membership in professional journalism groups is allowed, as is serving on the boards with your supervisor's approval.
  • Membership in and volunteer work for organizations — such as church groups, school PTA organizations, alumni groups, neighborhood associations, athletic organizations — is up to the individual employee. However, you should avoid membership in groups that would create an appearance of a conflict of interest. For example, an environmental reporter should not join environmental advocacy groups. If you have doubt about whether membership would create a conflict, consult your supervisor. If events occur that could create an appearance of a conflict of interest, advise your supervisor promptly. For example, if your homeowner's association sues the city — thus becoming a newsmaker — your supervisor needs to know of your ties to the association.
  • Do not promote events in the paper in which you have a role. As a general rule, if you are part of an event (emcee, organizer, etc.), you shouldn't write about it.

Generally, the level of coverage of charitable events should reflect the uniqueness of the event, the number of people who participate in and benefit from the charity and the amount of money raised by the event. If the Express-News is a significant sponsor of an event, that should be disclosed in any coverage.

Political activity

The Express-News understands its employees are citizens of a democracy and as such have obligations to fulfill, including voting in any and all elections. However, we also have a duty to society — to provide impartial coverage of all political activity.

Employees have a special obligation to uphold that impartiality by following these guidelines. If you are in doubt, consult a supervisor. If the Express-News has an interest in an issue, say, legislation dealing with a shield law, the story must state the newspaper's stance and actions it has taken regarding the issue, such as hiring a lobbyist.

  • Employees should not make contributions to or work for political parties or candidates or have direct involvement with entities organized to advocate for candidate, a political party or a solely political issue. If you're unsure, first consult with your supervisor.
  • Don't participate as an activist in political rallies, marches or demonstrations or make a public display of your political stances by posting a yard sign or bumper sticker promoting a specific candidate or issue.
  • Don't attend primary election party caucuses. If you're unsure, consult with your supervisor.
  • Don't run for or accept appointment to any public office.
  • Don't sign a petition that involves your beat or raises a perception of a conflict of interest. If you're unsure, consult with your supervisor.

Attribution

  • Never plagiarize — the deliberate submission and/or usage of another person's words, images or graphics without attribution to the original source taints the credibility and reputation of the offender and the Express-News.
  • Always ask yourself, “Am I submitting original words, images and overall content?” If in doubt, review your material for any questionable segments and attribute them appropriately.
  • If information is available only from one source, note the source immediately.
  • When inserting information verbatim, place the copied information in quotation marks and note the source immediately.
  • Only use a quote from another publication if you attribute it to that publication.
  • If reporting is heavily reliant on the EX-Files, cite the source, i.e., “as reported by the Express-News in 1997.” Be sure to check on subsequent developments that may not have been reported in the Express-News.
  • Where relevant, indicate if information comes from a news release or e-mail.
  • Credit any Express-News reporter, news researcher, photographer or other journalist who contributed significantly to your story in a byline or shirttail, whichever is appropriate.
  • Dateline a story only if a bylined writer reported from the location. If a contributing writer reported from elsewhere, explain so in a shirttail. For example: “Staff Writer Jane Doe contributed to this story from Brownsville.”
  • If using multiple sources for a story, name all the wire services in the tagline. The phrase “wire services contributed” is inadequate.
  • For photos, use a specific credit line. Generic attributions such as “Special to the Express-News” should be used in conjunction with naming the source.
  • For graphics, name all sources.