Reveal believes that all employees, especially our journalists, should uphold the highest standards of ethics, fairness and honesty. Integrity is the cornerstone of the organization. Whenever you are faced with an ethical problem, we urge you to consult our guidelines, never assume anything and always use common sense. If you can’t find answers in our guidelines and you have any doubt about how to proceed, consult your supervisor before taking action. Reveal follows guidelines outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists and its mission of “seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.” Our content must be accurate, thorough, complete and fair – on all platforms.
ANONYMOUS SOURCES
Our journalists will refrain from quoting or attributing information to anonymous sources. The editor in chief may approve rare exceptions to this rule if the information is deemed to be of high news value and importance – and if all other means to get the information on the record have been exhausted. But even before the use of an anonymous source reaches the editor in chief, it should be thoroughly discussed as soon as is practical with an assigning editor.
When dealing with sources, always question motives before promising anonymity. Avoid using anonymous sources to express negative opinions or make negative charges about an individual or organization. In the rare cases in which anonymous sources are approved by the editor in chief, we will tell readers or viewers why anonymity was granted in the story, accompanying sidebar, blog post, radio segment, podcast or video. Identify, to the fullest extent possible, the nature of the source, including qualifications and potential biases that can help the reader determine the validity of the information.
Even for key sources who will not be quoted, you should consult first with your assigning editor before granting a blanket promise of confidentiality. A senior editor must be notified of the identity of any anonymous or confidential sources. Sources, meanwhile, should be aware that their identity will be shared with a senior editor, who will also protect their confidentiality.
AGGREGATION
Reveal journalists should take great care when aggregating stories from other news sources. Verbatim language must be in quotation marks and properly attributed and linked to the source. Longer excerpts must be set off in block quotes and linked to the source. Aggregated content should be short – a small percentage of the actual article. In most cases, that means no more than a single paragraph of excerpted material and an extremely limited amount of rewritten text. When paraphrasing aggregated material, attribution and linking to the original material is essential.
AUDIO AND VISUAL EDITING
Reveal editors may improve the technical quality of a recording, video or photograph but must ensure reproduction comes as close as possible to what actually occurred. Discussions with management are not required for sound engineering, for dodging and burning of photos, color and tonal balancing, spotting to eliminate dust, electronic sharpening, or changing resolution to accommodate size.
For photos and video, you may never insert, move or remove content, including gestures, nudity or other cultural elements because you deem them offensive or unattractive. Do not extend backgrounds of news images or add any elements to a photo through Photoshop or other means. When making audio edits, ensure that you don’t change the meaning or intent of what someone said. Avoid altering deposition or any other video/audio from legal proceedings; in doing so you risk losing the protection of legal privilege.
Do not stage or re-enact photos. The exception would be a photograph that is clearly a portrait, which can be staged. Video/audio producers and editors are not allowed to alter images, stage events or stage scenes to represent reality, either. Photo illustrations must be identified as illustrations and clearly be distinct enough from reality so as not to mislead readers. Discussions with editors are required when altering or combining photographs and artwork even for an illustration.
Reveal video/audio producers and editors may improve and enhance the technical quality of footage, recordings and accompanying sound to achieve high production values. Editors also may intercut B-roll footage or audio that helps tell a story, so long as it is generic and does not misrepresent an actual location.
For example, photos or video of iconic federal or state government buildings are allowed if they suggest government decision making or power. If a specific government agency identified in narration is to be represented by a photo, video or illustration, it must be of the actual agency. The same standards apply to crowd photos or video shot in public places or generic shots of police officers, soldiers, workers, etc. In addition, if narration specifically describes problematic behavior (e.g., child abuse, drug use), accompanying generic photos or video scenes should not include identifiable images of individuals.
The use of evocative images, sounds or scenes in video or audio – such as shots of vehicle wheels, hood ornaments, hands counting money, gunshot sounds, etc. – must have the approval of senior editorial staff. Sounds used to create nonfiction dramatizations that were not captured in real time should be clearly identified to the listeners as such and require discussion with and approval by senior editorial leadership. An example would be the use of helicopter sounds to evoke a historical situation in which no actual sound recording exists.
Music should not be used to manipulate the emotions of the viewer. Again, senior editors always should be consulted and must sign off on these decisions.
Reveal reporters/producers cannot use hidden cameras or microphones or secretly record phone conversations without prior approval of the editor in chief and, for use in video or audio, the executive producer. Legal counsel review must also be sought in these instances. The standard for the decision must be made only at the highest level of reporting in the public interest, when there is no other way to document behavior.
A decision to film or record an “ambush” interview requires prior approval from the editor in chief and executive producer and only when the producers can prove they have exhausted other avenues of getting a subject to agree to an interview.
BYLINES
On joint reporting projects, we count on the newsroom staff involved to resolve questions of bylines and credits. When there is a disagreement, editors will decide. In general, the byline goes to the person or people who did significant work on the article, whether on staff or freelance. In most cases, a tagline mentions any contributor who does not appear in the byline. We must clearly credit all sources of photos, graphics, informational breakout text and Web and TV “frame grabs.”
CHALLENGES TO FACTS AND FAIRNESS
We take all challenges to the integrity of our news reports seriously. If reporters or producers become aware of disputed facts before publication or broadcast, the editor in chief should be notified as soon as possible. Challenges to published or broadcast facts should be brought to the attention of editors immediately and shared with the assigning editor, executive producer and editor in chief. If legal counsel representing a subject of a story contacts anyone at Reveal, the editor in chief and our legal counsel should be notified immediately. Retraction demands are particularly urgent regardless of the source – legal or not – because California law requires a response to a demand for retraction within a specific time period. That same sense of urgency and protocol will apply to any fact challenges.
When challenges to our facts or retraction demands are received, it’s prudent to refrain from any direct interaction with sources or attorneys representing the aggrieved parties. Instead, editors will work with reporters to prepare a written response to any points raised. This written response is for internal purposes only and will be used to help editors and/or our legal counsel prepare a formal response if warranted. These communications should never be emailed or shared in Google Docs or other electronic format without inclusion of ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE in the header and Reveal counsel on the cc.
CONFERENCE TRAVEL/HONORARIA
A supervisor must approve conference travel or honoraria – especially if a conference organizer is paying part of the bill or sponsoring an event. Travel reimbursement from journalistic trade groups, such as the Online News Association or Investigative Reporters and Editors, and others is generally acceptable but still needs a supervisor’s approval. We do not accept travel reimbursement or honoraria to attend conferences sponsored by government entities or interest groups.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Newsroom staff or assigned freelancers and contractors should not work on stories, projects or initiatives with which they have a personal connection, vested interest or financial interest. We ask that staffers, contractors and freelancers exercise an abundance of caution in these matters. Even a perceived conflict could damage our credibility.
This policy extends to the involvement and activities of a business partner, spouse or domestic partner. If a conflict exists, you should disclose it immediately to your supervisor. If there are any changes in the status that may determine the conflict or potential conflict, please notify your supervisor or assigning editor. If your spouse or significant other is involved in activities that could raise potential conflicts, we would urge you not to discuss any Reveal work matters that might affect your spouse or partner’s activities. This would include stories under development that might involve them, their associates or business entities as potential news sources.
Avoid secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they could compromise journalistic integrity. Our journalists should avoid investments in companies or industries they regularly cover. In addition, any secondary employment by staff must be cleared first with your supervisor.
CORRECTIONS
We are committed to correcting or clarifying errors in a prompt and open manner. All errors in published material must be reported to a supervisor immediately. We encourage feedback from the public and take any requests for clarification or correction seriously. Your editors should be notified when these public concerns arise.
CREDITING OTHER MEDIA
Any information taken from other published or broadcast sources should receive credit within the body of the story or broadcast. Reporters, producers and editors also should be aware of previously published/broadcast work on the same subject and give those news organizations credit if they have broken new ground or published exclusive material before any others.
DATELINES
Datelines identify for readers of text articles where the main news event occurred. Be careful never to leave the impression on a bylined story that the reporter traveled somewhere when he or she did not. Further, if the place the action occurred is not significant to the overall story, then a dateline should not be used.
DONOR INTERACTION
We have no sacred cows. We will not shy away from stories that we deem newsworthy. In the name of transparency, when we produce stories that involve donors to Reveal or board members, we will always disclose the relationship. When these situations arise, please notify your editor. To keep a firewall between development and editorial staff, our newsroom personnel should use common sense when engaging in a dialogue with our funders, foundations and major donors. If there is any confusion about this, please consult with the editor in chief.
FAIRNESS
All sources will be treated with courtesy and respect in the newsgathering process. Reveal staff and representatives will act professionally at all times in dealing with sources, even hostile and recalcitrant ones. Subjects of our stories should have many opportunities to respond to our findings and facts. Whenever practical, multiple attempts should be made to contact anyone named in our stories, particularly those cast in a negative light, and those attempts should begin as early as possible in the reporting process. Reporters and producers should discuss with their editors what is appropriate in terms of notice and attempts to obtain comment or response.
FREELANCE/OUTSIDE INCOME
Noncompetitive freelance work or side projects are acceptable as long they do not conflict with our mission and our work. However, run these opportunities by a supervisor before discussing, pitching or accepting any outside assignments or agreeing to any outside commitments. If approval is granted, these stories will be produced outside of work on your own time.
GIFTS
Reveal employees or representatives will under no circumstance accept gifts from sources or potential news sources. Holiday baskets from news sources should be turned over to your supervisor/assigning editor for distribution to charity. Items for review, such as DVDs, CDs, books and videos, can be accepted for evaluation by staff as to their news value. Staff members are allowed to use those items necessary for doing their jobs, including reference books used on an ongoing basis. All other items are to be turned over to your supervisor for disposal. Gift bags that include more expensive items, such as briefcases or memorabilia, should be returned. A gratuity, such as a pen, mug, paperweight or certificate, given to a newsroom associate for being a guest speaker at a community meeting or service club can be accepted, as long as it is a token of appreciation given to every speaker.
HARM
As outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists, reporters should strive to minimize harm. Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects. Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief. Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance. 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 an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy. Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Do not identify juvenile suspects unless they have been charged as adults or unless you receive approval from a senior editor. We also will not identify victims of sex crimes without their agreement and approval from the editor in chief. Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges. Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.
Identification of a minor in any story produced by Reveal should be cleared with an assignment editor. In quoting minors, we should ensure that we have obtained parental consent or the consent of a legal guardian whenever possible – so that minor subjects are fully aware of the ramifications of speaking on the record in the media. This is particularly true with visual media, where we should seek a release signed by a parent or guardian whenever possible.
INTERVIEWS BY OTHER MEDIA
It’s important to represent Reveal professionally at all times. Please refrain from taking a position on stories or issues. When interviewed on TV or radio, do not take sides or express opinions. (This doesn’t mean you can’t have a point of view based on facts and your findings. But let the facts speak for themselves.) Refrain from taking any public positions on politics or issues that may compromise our ability to be seen as fair and objective. In general, only senior managers at Reveal should speak about Reveal’s internal policies with outside media.
Reporters typically will be asked by a supervisor or by the engagement staff to be interviewed by outside media. When a request comes directly to a reporter or staff member, please check with your supervisor before agreeing to be interviewed. In some rare cases, exceptions to this may be granted in the interest of time. But in general, editors/supervisors should be alerted about all media requests in advance. We encourage our reporters to be accessible and open, but we prefer to weigh the platform and venue carefully before agreeing for them to appear on air.
MEALS / ALCOHOL
Sometimes, a meal or refreshments are included with your admission to an event, and sometimes it would seem rude to refuse to eat with a group that has invited you to attend. It is not against our ethics to eat in these situations. You should make a good-faith effort to pay the proportionate cost of your meal. In the case of source meetings over food or refreshments, we generally expect and encourage you to pay your own way. For example, if you have a long-time source and it is your practice to alternate picking up the check at lunch, that’s fine. We strongly encourage Reveal to pay for the first meal in such cases. Allowing a source to buy you a cup of coffee is OK; an expensive dinner is not OK.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages when on Reveal business and during work hours unless it’s a sanctioned Reveal social event where alcohol is served. Misuse of alcohol at a Reveal-sponsored or Reveal-approved event is prohibited. Reveal does not reimburse employees for alcoholic drinks.
MISREPRESENTATION
Under no circumstances will Reveal staff or assigned freelancers and contractors mislead sources, lie, cheat, steal or engage in any other immoral, unethical or illegal behavior in pursuit of a story. We expect our staff to exercise sound judgment at all times. We identify ourselves upfront as journalists with Reveal or Reveal brands. We do not use hidden cameras or microphones, go undercover or engage in any other news-gathering tactic that might be construed as misleading without first discussing the ramifications and consequences with editors and our legal counsel. The editor in chief must sign off on any unconventional reporting methods and approaches.
OFF THE RECORD
Off the record, background, deep background – all might mean different things to different people. When engaging in off-the-record interviews, make sure to spell out clearly the ground rules so there is no misunderstanding about how the information gathered may be used.
PLAGIARISM
Under no circumstances will Reveal journalists or assigned freelancers/contractors steal material from other sources. All outside work must be properly credited and clearly noted. This includes any material on the Internet. Plagiarism is a serious offense, and violators will be subject to discipline up to and including termination. Reveal’s guidelines to avoid plagiarism are adapted from writings of the faculty of the Poynter Institute.
While you are gathering information, make sure to carefully note your sources, and if you copy something verbatim into your story, make sure to put it in quotation marks and properly attribute the source. If you paraphrase, even as you rewrite it into your own voice, lean toward attribution. Don’t copy or cut and paste information, including text, pictures and graphics, from websites and press releases into your report. Take care when using information from our archives.
Fabrication – to invent details, people and stories – also violates all of our principles. Readers must be confident that we are not making anything up. Fabrication is a serious offense, and violators will be subject to discipline up to and including termination. This policy also bans the use of “composite” characters, or creating details that we did not observe or verify from a source who was in a position to know.
In those special cases in which we are reconstructing events or writing special narratives, have conversations with your editor about the proper way to let readers know how we know what we wrote is accurate. This may require an explanatory note identifying our sources and perhaps attributing specific pieces of information to specific sources, akin to footnoting.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Reveal employees do not participate in political causes. This applies to all employees. We refrain from signing petitions or making campaign contributions to any political or activist causes. We also should exercise care to avoid signing any document disclosing our personal political affiliations or preferences. We attend political events, rallies or speeches only in our official capacity as journalists when assigned by a supervising editor. We do not participate in marches, protests or other events tied to political or activist causes.
Charitable contributions are not governed by this policy. But we ask that all employees exercise common sense and good judgment when making charitable contributions to organizations with clear political agendas, particularly those that list their contributors publicly.
All of us have lives. And many of us can be deeply affected or touched by local policies in our communities – especially those affecting the care or education of our children. Nevertheless, we ask that employees refrain from taking an activist role in community activities – speaking, marching, protesting or organizing. That does not rule out attending meetings or asking questions at a meeting in an informational capacity. Please notify your supervisor immediately if you wish to seek any further exception to this policy. In cases in which exceptions are granted, it would preclude the employee from working on any related story, topic or initiative.
PROFANITY AND SLURS
We typically refrain from using profanity or slurs in quoted material in our stories unless approved by the editor in chief. Exceptions to this rule can be made when the use is deemed to be relevant to the story. It is generally better to paraphrase the material to avoid using offensive language. Before the use of profanity or a slur reaches the editor in chief, it should be thoroughly discussed with your assigning editor.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Everything on your social media accounts (even personal accounts) has the potential to affect your reputation and, by extension, the perception of credibility of Reveal’s nonpartisan newsroom. Be smart. Be professional. Exercise good judgment on your social media sites. All issues brought up in the larger Reveal ethics guidelines apply to social media as well.
While social media works best when you participate, remember to maintain an appropriate tone. Avoid loaded, political, obnoxious, profane, disdainful or hurtful language or personal attacks in your activity. Treat posts on social media as you would a conversation at a cocktail party: There are some issues about which you should not express an opinion. This should carry over to our tweets; to Instagram, Google+, Tumblr, Snapchat and Facebook posts; and to any other social media.
Even if you use social networking for personal purposes only, remember that anything you post might be shared or might show up publicly. Do not post information that could reflect poorly on your professional role at Reveal. As an employee of Reveal, you are effectively a public figure. Be careful of “friending” sources or exchanging information on social media, especially if you wish them to be confidential. Twitter has surrendered private direct messages during legal proceedings. Be careful what information you exchange on any platform.
You should not list your political affiliation or any other affiliations that might undermine our credibility. Be aware that when you follow or like a political or other partisan organization – and do not follow the opposing side – you could be seen as having a bias.
Your public profiles should identify you as a journalist or that you work for Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. When you interact with users on a social media platform for a story or to gather sources, make sure that all parties involved are aware of your identity and motives for contacting them.
Maintain Reveal’s journalistic standards when posting or sharing news you distribute on social media. While social media can be a way to share breaking news, you should feel secure that information you are broadcasting to your network comes from credible sources. Treat it as you would sourcing for Reveal stories. Use extreme caution during breaking news events. Also be aware of what you retweet. To avoid misconceptions, you may want to add a note of explanation. For example, if you retweet a politician, add a note such as, “New from (politician),” or something to convey that you are providing this as a service to your followers.
Not all photos found on social media may be reused freely. Source the image back to the original owner and/or copyright holder and get permission before using it on Reveal platforms. Confirm crediting and find out if any payment is required for use.
SUBPOENAS AND REQUESTS FROM OUTSIDE INVESTIGATORS
From time to time, we may be drawn into stories we cover. As an example, one of our reporters was contacted by an outside investigator looking into allegations of wrongdoing raised by our journalism. An attempt was made to draw in our reporter as a witness. If you ever are contacted by outside legal counsel or investigators, notify your supervisor or assigning editor immediately and refrain from answering any questions or making any comment until advised by our legal counsel.
TICKETS
No staff member will use his or her position to seek or accept tickets or passes – no matter the face value – made available in advance of general public sales, at a reduced price or free. We do not allow Reveal employees to use their positions to personal advantage. No staff member will seek or accept free admission offered to amusements parks, sporting events or other activities from the organizations, their representatives or any outside sources that we cover. This does not preclude us from accepting tickets or gifts passed on by friends who are not news sources.
TRANSPARENCY
We never overreach in our storytelling. When appropriate, we should not hesitate to disclose what we don’t know about a specific story we’re reporting. When facing difficult choices, you should attempt to make your decision-making process clear to the public. We disclose any relationships with partners or funders that might appear to influence our coverage. Whenever practical, we strive to explain to readers and our audience the process of building our stories and provide raw data and documentation for public consumption.
TRAVEL
All reporting-related travel expenses will be paid by Reveal because we value our independence. We do not accept free travel or accommodations. We also will not knowingly use freelance pieces for which the author accepted special consideration, as in a junket. No newsroom associate is permitted to use his or her position in an effort to obtain preferred treatment, as such actions bring our integrity into question.
UNDERCOVER WORK
Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information, except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story. The editor in chief and our legal counsel must be consulted and grant approval before a staff member or freelancer engages in any undercover work.
VERIFICATION
Our credibility is built on honest, accurate, fair and thorough journalism. We take great care to verify our work. Reporters are responsible for confirming all facts and for footnoting their stories. Editors, producers and copy editors check our staff-generated content and must take care in generating headlines, touts, captions and any other additional content to ensure that we accurately capture and reflect the essence of the story package.
Reveal staffers and assigned freelancers and contractors must not pay for information from sources under any circumstances.
Whistleblower Policy
Reveal encourages staff and volunteers to come forward with information regarding illegal practices or policy violations and is committed to protecting the reporting individual from retaliation. Employees who have concerns about potential illegal practices or policy violations should speak to their direct supervisor, Human Resources, or the CEO.
Acknowledgment
I have read and understand the contents of Reveal’s Newsroom Ethics Guide and will act in accord with these policies and procedures.
I understand that Reveal may modify or eliminate any policies and practices at the sole discretion of the organization. Reveal will communicate policy changes through meetings, updates to this handbook, memoranda or other means, as appropriate.
Employee name: _________________________________________
Employee signature: ______________________________________
Date: __________________________________________________