Ethics Code for Austin American-Statesman — News/Editorial Employees

Newspapers function as a watchdog on government and other institutions. This means we must adhere to a high ethical standard ourselves. We cannot hold others to a higher standard than our own. We must conduct ourselves and our business in a way that reflects favorably on us as professionals and our newspaper as an institution devoted to the public good.

The principles set forth in this policy statement are intended to serve as a general guide. Nothing in the guidelines should be construed as limiting social exchange between employees of the newspaper and other individuals or organizations. As long as such relationships meet the simple tests of good judgment and propriety, they should be considered in order. When there is doubt about the appropriateness of a business investment or about any possible conflict of interest, the staff member should discuss the situation first with a supervising editor. Staffers have an obligation to report outside involvement before they become an issue or conflict.

This policy supplements the one found in the employee handbook, offering more precision and detail in some areas.

A violation of any of the guidelines spelled out in this code may result in firing or suspension.

A. USING POSITION FOR PERSONAL GAIN

Employees should not exploit for personal gain their connection with the Austin American-Statesman in any manner.

Employees should refrain from placing the company under any obligation or seeming obligation to any person, firm, or organization.

Employees should question any special consideration that comes their way because they work on the news staffs.

Employees should not use company letterhead to communicate or complain unless about official business.

Employees should not seek or accept reduced rates or special treatment offered because of their positions with the paper.

B. FINANCIAL INTERESTS

Employee may not enter into a business relationship with a news source.

Employees may not make investments that could come into conflict with the staff member's duties. Mutual funds are, by their nature, excluded from this concern, since they include packages of stocks, rather than individual investments.

A staff member with investments or stock holdings in corporations should avoid making news decisions that involve these corporations. If you own shares in a company you are assigned to cover, please tell your assigning editor. The editor will decide if the assignment should go to someone else. Unpublished information gathered by the Austin American-Statesman may not be used by staff members for investment decisions.

C. GIFTS, FREEBIES AND CONFLICTING INTERESTS

Two main issues - credibility and access to news - come into play when objects of value are made available to journalists.

In many cases, the free thing represents simple, direct access to the news for the reporter, photographer or editor, whether through a press box at a sports stadium, press seats at a play, movie or concert, or samples provided by a manufacturer or distributor for review. In essence, these opportunities are no different from admission to a school board meeting or city council planning session.

The primary focus should be on the opportunity to report the news, not on potential pleasure or privilege.

It cannot appear to sources, subjects or readers that, because of access, journalists are somehow compromised, that their reporting or judgment has been purchased for the price of admission or a sample. This appearance of a conflict of interest is complicated by often well-intentioned gifts of value, including meals, flowers and food.

Staff members must follow these guidelines:

1. Do not accept anything of value that does not provide basic access to the news.

2. Anything of value that does not meet this news-gathering standard should be donated to charity through a newsroomwide system.

3. Consult a supervisor whenever a question arises.

It is crucial that these general guidelines and the more specific policies outlined below are followed newsroomwide. All newsroom employees, including interns, editorial assistants, editors, designers, artists, photographers and supervisors, should review this policy annually during their performance review process. Freelancers should review the policy annually with an update of the freelance contract.

Specifically:

Employees (and freelancers working on projects for the American-Statesman) may not accept free trips, hotel rooms, free passes for sports or entertainment (except when reporting on the sports or entertainment event), reduced rates (on clothes, books, hotels, travel, tickets or any merchandise) or things of value.

Except in the process of reporting the news, free tickets to events for which the public must pay should not be accepted by staff members, or members of their households on behalf of the staff member. Reporters may accept access to a press box or press seats when covering their beats. With the permission of a supervisor, the reporter may accept admission to an event for a companion.

Occasionally, event promoters will decline to make press seats or box facilities available to reporters and photographers. Staff members required to attend such events should purchase tickets and be reimbursed by the Austin American-Statesman.

Photographers and reporters assigned to cover sports or political events may use such facilities as review seats, press boxes, press galleries or press rooms that are necessary to cover the event.

Editors may also accept press seats or facilities on occasions when their attendance improves familiarity with coverage areas, sources and/or challenges facing reporters.

On the occasions when the Austin American-Statesman as a company arranges special rates for its employees, news/editorial employees may participate as desired. It should be made clear that these rates or arrangements are purchased by the newspaper, and therefore are not "freebies."

Also prohibited: Jumping to the head of the line by using news contacts around town to buy tickets in any way not available to the general public. In cases when the press is given early access to events, such as reserved places in line for movies, festival concerts or golf tournaments, reporters covering the event should exercise discretion.

People covering charity balls and social events -- or the personalities involved in these events -- may accept comp tickets.

Books, records, CDs, DVDs, product samples and computer software may be accepted as news releases for possible review.

Department heads will determine how materials will be dispersed after the newspaper has made use of them. In some cases, the thing of value, such as a specialized business or medical publication, would not bring a reasonable bid at a charity auction. They may be donated to libraries.

Reporters may keep books, CDs or DVDs for their professional reference libraries after they are reviewed. They may not sell them or profit from their disposal in any way.

All other books, CDs, DVDs, cosmetics, apparel or other non-perishable things of value should be delivered to a bin at the desk of a designated newsroom assistant. These will be transferred each morning to a designated secure room near the newsroom, then moved periodically to a secure space elsewhere in the building. At least once a year, these valuables will be auctioned in the building to benefit a charity designated by the editor.

T-shirts, caps, calendars, posters, pens and other such inexpensive promotional material do not have to be returned and may be contributed to the charity bin.

Employees may not receive review material of any kind at home. Employees may not receive gifts at home.

Employees also may not accept gifts of significant value from news sources, companies or people with whom we do business. Such gifts should be returned with a note explaining company policy.

Exceptions: Small amounts of food may be accepted if it would be rude to decline, and employees may engage in the standard business practice of exchanging lunches with sources. Excess food may go to the food altar. Flowers may be donated to a hospital, nursing home or similar institution.

D. REVIEWING VERSUS SELLING

At times, staff members will be writing about products that are for sale. When these reviews are for the paper, they undergo the strong scrutiny of our editing process and appear in a context that makes it clear they are news. When these reviews are unedited, as they are for blogs, Twitter and other social media, writers should be deliberative about whether their words can be misconstrued as advertising a product or a store. There is a particular danger in presenting information without a lot of context under the space constraints of something like Twitter. A Tweet that says ‘DVDs are 20 percent off at Target’ from a Statesman-affiliated account is more likely to be seen as an advertisement than a news item, so as a rule we should avoid it. Such Tweets could present a conflict of mission between editorial and advertising departments and suggest bias or erode credibility of our staff. Some beat writers who are considered consumer experts in their area (personal technology, food, gardening, etc.) may at times want to let their followers know about deals that, because they are so extraordinary, constitute news (ex: ‘Wii prices have dropped by $100 at all GameStops’). Those writers should exercise careful news judgment to maintain the balance between informing readers about something that is truly newsworthy and falling for a company’s PR gimmick. When in doubt, consult an editor.

As columnists and beat writers reflect on merchandise, restaurants or services, they should avoid issuing a ‘call to action’ — a suggestion that a reader purchase something or use only a specific store. For example, a blogger who reviews a new children’s stroller or a fast hard drive might discuss quality and cost of the merchandise, but stop short of suggesting that a particular store has the best prices or that readers should act specifically at their urging to make a type of purchase. Links to review articles on Twitter, Facebook or other social media sites should be neutral, so that consumers benefit from the full context of the review, rather than a snapshot that can be misconstrued as an advertisement. They should also include language that makes it clear the article is a review. When in doubt, consult an editor.

E. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES AND EMPLOYMENT

Staff members should avoid outside activities that might conflict with -- or even give the appearance of conflict with – the staff member's responsibility to the Austin American-Statesman and to our readers. Examples would include work for an employer who is the subject of Austin American-Statesman news coverage; work which might indicate an endorsement of the employer by the newspaper; work for an employer who competes with the Austin American-Statesman for either circulation or advertising revenue.

Work in publicity or public relations is not permissible.

Working as a volunteer at your child's school or with service organizations is of course proper and acceptable.

F. POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT

Political involvement or holding public office should be considered a conflict of interest for news and editorial employees.

Staff members are encouraged, even urged, to exercise their franchise as citizens to privately discuss matters of public interest and to register to vote in referenda, primaries and general elections. However, because our profession requires stringent efforts against partiality and perceptions of bias, staff members should avoid political activity beyond that. Those who do not should be aware that their involvement may affect their duties at the paper. For example, marching in an abortion rally could preclude a reporter not only from covering that issue but perhaps other health issues.

Marching, picketing, signing a petition and other active campaigning should be avoided. When there is doubt about whether an outside activity is appropriate, staff members should bring the issue to the attention of their department head.

Staff members should be cognizant that use of social media – Twitter, Facebook, blogs or other online interactions – is covered under the newsroom ethics policy. Staff members should assume that all blogging, Twittering and commenting on Facebook or elsewhere is public. Newsroom staff should avoid posting opinions that will reflect partiality or create perceptions of bias that undermine the credibility of the newspaper. This includes joining political causes or listing party affiliations on social media sites.

If there is a reasonable chance that their outside activity could reflect on the fairness or credibility of the newspaper and its coverage, they should not become involved.

G. FAMILY CONFLICTS

No staff member should write about, report on, photograph or make a news judgment about any individual related to him or her by blood or marriage or with whom the staff member has a close personal relationship.

H. OUTSIDE APPEARANCES

Generally, we encourage appearances by news staff members on television, radio, or before an audience. Employees should take care not to describe or characterize the newspaper’s work, whether published or not, to people outside the newsroom. Anyone making such an appearance should take care not to stray beyond anything we have published. Any appearance in a medium other than the Austin American-Statesman must be approved by the employee’s supervisor. Whether a staffer is to be paid for these appearances -- or accept travel and accommodations when necessary — also must be cleared by a supervisor before a commitment is made.

I. FREELANCE WORK

Newsroom employees may freelance for non-competing, reputable publications under certain circumstances. Such activity, including creating any content for the Web, requires approval of the employee’s supervisor regardless of whether it’s a paid job.

Employees seeking to freelance must:

* Give the American-Statesman the first right of refusal to any story, photo, graphic, blog or Web content. Employees should not shop a story, photo, graphic or web content to another publication or website before offering it to their own.

* Notify supervisors of freelance agreements to make sure no conflicts exist. Supervisors are expected to notify department heads upon approval of an employee's freelance assignment.

* Confine work on freelance assignments to periods other than their scheduled working hours.

* Observe the Statesman ethics policy when freelancing a story, photo or graphic or producing any Web content, including personal blogs.

J. OPERATING PERSONAL BLOGS OR WEBSITES

Maintaining personal blogs and websites is permitted, as long as staff members follow all portions of the ethics policy herein by avoiding postings that will undermine the credibility of the newspaper or the professional stature of the staff member. Personal sites should not directly compete in advertising or content with statesman.com or Austin360.com, although links to those sites from personal sites are welcomed. When in doubt, consult an editor.

K. PLAGIARISM

Committing plagiarism and fabricating information are serious violations of trust. Material taken verbatim and without credit from wire services, Internet sources or printed sources is plagiarism and is not to appear in the Austin American-Statesman.

L. PHOTO MANIPULATION AND ETHICS

Photo manipulation assumes two forms.

1. Electronic manipulation of an image.

NEWS IMAGES:

Credibility is our most valuable asset. Maintaining that credibility is the purpose of drafting and enforcing these guidelines. Photographers report the news visually with the same goals as reporters and editors -- with authenticity and accuracy.

The film or digital image captured by the camera can be computer-enhanced only for the purpose of producing the closest possible likeness of what the photographer actually saw. Beyond this, the images are technically manipulated to ensure faithful reproduction on newsprint.

We do not digitally alter photographs by adding or removing content. Traditional darkroom techniques such as lightening or darkening parts of photos for legibility or emphasis are allowed within limits and approved by a photo editor. Exaggerated use of dodging, burning and sharpening for effect is not permitted.

ILLUSTRATIONS:

Photo illustrations, fashion, food and other controlled studio work have guidelines different from news photography. They are labeled as such or are such obvious departures from reality that any reader would know it.

All staff photographers must adhere to these policies. These guidelines also apply to free-lance photographers, images provided by outside sources and any image purchased.

2. Manipulation of subjects we photograph.

Photographers do not create situations or otherwise manipulate subjects of news stories and portray them as "found" moments. Portraits are an exception.

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

Statesman staff or those representing the newspaper should not mislead subjects of their photos in order to obtain permission to photograph them. They should not break the law to obtain photos or promise subjects access to their photographs without prior permission or agreement with supervisors.

Unpublished photos are not revealed or shared with outside sources or other publications without a photo editor's approval.