Code of Conduct for Reporters
- UMMnews is a not-for-profit organization. At UMMnews we are united by a simple, common purpose; to provide its users;
- the real news – not news ‘stories’ that are often aimed at creating perceptions which suites the paymasters of the mainstream media,
- objective articles written from the neutral point of view,
- quality opinions written by nonpartisan authors, and,
- videos not designed for propaganda or commercial benefits.
- It is essential for success of UMMnews that we provide the truth, and that our readers believe us to be conveying the truth. If we are not giving them the truth - then UMMnews cannot succeed.
- To maintain this purpose; following Code of Conduct applies to UMMnews’s content providers.
- UMMnews reporter/writer must accept his/her individual responsibility for following all legal requirements and ethical business practices when reporting a news item or submitting an article or any other content.
- UMMnews reporter or writers must not plagiarise. Any copied material should be duly quoted and referenced.
- All the news items and articles should be objective and based on accurate information.
- UMMnews articles must conform to the policy of Neutral point of view, and provide information that contains no bias. This includes removing and/or editing the contents that have been determined to advocate a particular point of view to the exclusion of others.
- It is essential that all risks of being inflammatory, misleading, or inconsiderate to subjects and sources be minimised. This is especially relevant to those engaging in original reporting.
- News Reporters/Writers should not submit a report or article based solely on speculation, hunches or wild guesses.
- News Reporters/Writers should try to contact the subject of the news/article whenever possible.
- News Reporters/Writers should ensure that the facts are correct by getting verification from multiple sources, and then present it fairly.
- News Reporters/Writers should ensure that the sources and quotes from all relevant sides of an argument are included in a news item or article, to avoid being biased.
- Source’s opinions expressed in a news item or article should be direct quotes. UMMnews has no official opinion on anything; however, sources often do.
- In news-gathering; UMMnews reporters should strive to identify all the sources of the information. Any source that requests to remain anonymous is fully entitled to this. You are not obliged to bring up the possibility of anonymity; you are obliged to honour requests for it. Just remember, anonymous sources can make a news item or article less credible, so it is important to make effort to persuade reluctant sources to volunteer to go on the record. Explaining to a source why you would prefer them to go on the record is a gentle and often effective way of persuading them to do so. Note that Editors have an obligation to know the identity of unnamed sources in your report/article, so that editors and reporters can jointly assess the appropriateness of using their information. Sources need to understand this practice.
- You should shield a source with anonymity only when they insist upon it and when they provide vital information - not opinion or speculation, and when there is no other way to obtain that information, and when you know the source is knowledgeable and reliable.
- You should identify in your news item/article any important bias that a source may have. If the news item/article hinges on documents, as opposed to interviews, you should describe how the documents were obtained, to the extent possible.
- You should not omit facts of major importance or significance.
- Before submitting for publication, make a mental list of all parties involved in the report or article and think about how each will feel about the report/article.
- Make sure that our analyses represent our best independent judgments rather than our preferences, or those of our sources; and there are no hidden agendas in any of our journalistic undertaking.
- All the material and information related to a news item or article of sensitive nature (for example company takeover or merger), which is in-progress, should not be disclosed to anyone outside UMMnews, including family, friends and relatives, until that content has been published.
- Using the information related to these forthcoming news/articles as a basis for any investment decision is strictly prohibited. Reporters/writers with knowledge of any such forthcoming material should not buy or sell shares/securities or in any way encourage or assist any other person in buying or selling of shares/securities, directly or indirectly, prior to its publication.
- UMMnews reporters/writers are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that leaves no grounds for belief that the creation or dissemination of any news or other information was influenced by a desire to affect any share/security prices, or any other investments.
- UMMnews reporter or writers should not pay for interviews.
- Before submitting any interviews; make sure that the interviewee is absolutely happy with the article's final text. Remember to respect that they have taken the time to talk to you.
- News reporters, writers and other content providers should not submit;
- fraudulent, unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, offensive, profane, vulgar, obscene, pornographic, sexually explicit or indecent material.
- material that constitute or encourage conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law, and,
- materials that violate, plagiarise or infringe the rights of third parties including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, trade secret, confidentiality, contract, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary right.
- If an innocent or unintentional mistake is made, it needs to be corrected - fully, quickly and ungrudgingly. If such situation arises, the reporter/writer involved should discuss the issue with the editor and decide what response is warranted.
