Ethics related to cyber medium
1- Accuracy:
Accuracy is the indispensable value in journalism and must not be compromised. Cyber journalists must
deliver error-free content. They must ensure that their content is a verifiable representation of the news.
They should never intentionally mislead those who depend upon them for information. They must be
accurate with their target audiences. Sometimes it's OK to print information that they haven't confirmed
with multiple sources.
Just make sure that you label it as such. Never ever publish information that you know not to be true.
2- Honesty:
Cyber journalists should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. They
must strive to keep news content free of special interests, inside or outside the news organization. They
should embrace the value of transparency.
3- Honor Copyrights and never plagiarize:
They should value original thought and expression. Their work should be free from fraud and deception. -
- That includes plagiarism and fabrication. We will attribute content and honor copyrights. It includes not
just cutting and pasting whole articles, but copying photos, graphics, video and even large text excerpts
from others and putting them on your web page as well. If you want to reference something on another
website, link it instead. If you are concerned that the page you're linking to will disappear, give your
readers the name of the publication that published the page, its date of publication and a short summary of
its content. Just like news reporters used to reference other content before the Web. (“In a Sept. 20
report, the Wall Street Journal reported....").
4- Identify and link to sources:
Cyber journalist should act honorably and ethically in dealing with news sources. He/she should Identify
and link to sources, whenever feasible. The public should entitle to as much information as possible on
sources’ reliability. He/she should always question sources’ motives before promising secrecy. Clarify
conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information.
5- Never distort the content of photos and videos:
Never distort the content of photos without disclosing what has been changed or digitally alter
photographs to mislead the audience. Image enhancement is only acceptable for technical clarity.
Montage and photo illustrations should be label. Any attempt to confuse readers or misrepresent visual
information is prohibited. In photographing news, do not stage or restructure events. Similarly, in editing
video, do not insert words or splice together statements made at different times so as to suggest that they
were uttered at the same time. Pieces of an interview or address generally should be presented in the order
that they occurred. If an interview is presented in question-and answer format, the questions must be
presented as they were asked. Reaction shots may not be altered after the fact. Staging is prohibited.
6- Distinguish factual information and commentary from advertising:
Cyber journalists should distinguish factual information and commentary from advertising and avoid
hybrid or mixture that blurs the lines between the two.
7- Distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information:
Even advocacy writing and commentary should not misrepresent facts or context of the news event. So,
Cyber journalist should strive to distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information.
8- Define and clearly Label, news and opinion:
Journalists and news organizations should understand the necessity of defining, and clearly labeling, news
and opinion. In an open environment like the Web, consistency in presentation can help the reader see
clearly where the lines are drawn between news and opinion. Whenever journalists or organizations blur
or blend those roles, they need to recognize the risk and consider the consequences.
9- Privacy:
Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public
officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only a dominant public need can justify
interruption into anyone's privacy. Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those
affected by tragedy or grief.
10- Balance/ Fairness:
Cyber journalists should create a balance by including all sides relevant to a news story and not take sides
in news coverage. In covering controversial issues seek out intelligent, articulate views from all
perspectives. Reporters should try genuinely to understand all points of view, rather than simply grab
quick quotations to create an impression of balance.
11- Juveniles and victims of sex crimes
The Times does not identify the alleged victims of sex crimes or persons under 18 who are charged with
crimes. Exceptions occasionally arise. The decision to name individuals in such cases rests with the editor
or managing editor or an editor designated by them.
12- Criminal suspects
Cyber journalists should be careful about identifying juvenile suspects, victims of sex crimes and criminal
suspects before the formal filing of charges. Cyber journalists should not identify suspects of criminal
investigations who have not been charged or arrested. On occasion, the prominence of the suspect or the
importance of the case will justify an Exception to this policy. In those instances, we must take great care
that our sourcing is reliable and that law enforcement officials have a reasonable basis for considering the
individual a suspect. If someone we have identified as a suspect ultimately is not charged, we should
make that known in a follow-up story. Show Compassion for those who may be affected adversely by
content.
13- Corrections:
Cyber Journalists should admit mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently. Correct what we get
wrong as promptly and as clearly as possible. Establish systems to enable readers to alert us to mistakes
and hold us accountable.
14- Principle of independence
Journalists should honor the principle of independence. They should avoid conflicts of interest or the
appearance of conflicts that could put their ability to report or the credibility of their reporting or
commentary at risk. They should not accept gifts or favors from people or entities they cover or over
whom they might influence coverage. They should deny favored treatment to advertisers and special
interests and resist their pressure to influence content.
15- Variations of tone and presentation in storytelling:
Variations of tone and presentation in storytelling are appropriate for reaching new audiences, but those
variations should be consistent with the core editorial principles. Be clear on what you stand for, and
honor it. These principles apply across all content and all platforms.
16- Linking decisions:
The linking decision requires more specific considerations, including the relevance and reliability of
the material that might be linked. Linking decisions should be based on serving the audience with as
accurate and as complete a picture of the world as possible. Such decisions should not be restricted by
commercial concerns about sending customers to others' sites. Linking is at the core of the Web
experience, tying together content that allows readers to discover unexpected treasures and contextual
information that can't comfortably fit into print and broadcast paradigms. But linking also comes with
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challenges for media organizations. Until now, content was easily classified -- it was in the paper or it
wasn't; it was broadcast on the air or it wasn’t. Linking has created a netherworld in which media
companies can point to sites without assuming responsibility for their veracity or standards. So how do
media sites embrace linking without compromising their core values?
17- Principles & Values
• A link to an external site does not signify an endorsement of that site or its point of view. It is merely a
signal to the reader that there may be content of interest on the destination site.
• Despite this, media sites should make it clear to their readers -- in the user agreement, site guidelines or
via some other method -- that there's a difference in standards between the content that resides on their
own site and the content they link to.
• Because of the spider-like nature of the Web, media sites can't be expected to apply even these relaxed
standards to the content of sites that are linked to from sites we link to (the two-click rule).
• When readers put their own links to content in message boards, blog posts, etc., those links should be
considered user-generated content and subject to the same controls.
• All media sites should to link to external sites. Linking off-site is an extension of your site's user
experience and fosters a feeling of openness that's conducive to repeat visits. Trying to keep readers
within just your site is a losing proposition.
• When linking, sites should not be forced into including links that support all sides of an issue. While
news articles themselves should adhere to the traditional standards of fairness and accuracy, assuring
balance in links run counters to the concept of providing only useful links to the reader.