The Conversation Starts Here

TODD A. HEYWOOD is a participant in the Center for Independent Media New Journalist
Program. However, all of the statements, opinions, policies, and views expressed on this site are
solely TODD A. HEYWOOD’s. This web site is not a production of the Center, and the Center
does not endorse or support any of the contents of this site.

All the bloggers and writers at ToddHeywood.com subscribe to the following code of ethics

Seek and Report the Truth
Writers should be honest, tireless, fair and courageous in gathering,
reporting and interpreting information for the public.

Contributors should:
• Ensure the accuracy of all information, regardless of where it comes from. Review facts
and stories. Never knowingly publish false information.
• Give all the public the chance to respond to news stories, particularly those who might be
accused of wrongdoing. Keep an open dialogue with the public.
• Identify sources when possible. The public must be able to know how reliable sources
are.
• Take special care with anonymous sources, keeping their motives in mind. Do not
become beholden to sources; keep agreements with them clear and honest.
• Never misrepresent events in an attempt to oversimplify or take events out of context.
• Maintain the integrity and clarity of visual and audio content in keeping with the
standards for written content.
• Only use undercover and surreptitious methods of gathering information in extreme
situations when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Do
not compromise personal or professional integrity for any reason.
• Never plagiarize.
• Never limit their reporting to information that people want to hear. Write stories
regardless of whether a subject is popular or whether people want to read about it.
• Seek to improve the public discourse by never stereotyping based on race, gender, age,
religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social
status. Avoid imposing cultural values on others and keep in mind the growing diversity
of modern society.
• Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
• Use both official and unofficial sources to acknowledge and give voice to those without
traditional power.
• Acknowledge the difference between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and
commentary should be understood as such, and identified as such in publication.
• Distinguish news from advertising and never allow the latter to take precedence over the
former.
• Recognize their role in maintaining an open society by ensuring that the public’s business
and government records are open to inspection.

Be Fair
Contributors must maintain a sense of decency and integrity by treating sources,
subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.

Contributors should:
• Be sensitive to those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use care and
courtesy when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or
grief.
• Recognize the possible negative effects of their news stories, and remain humble in the
pursuit of gathering and reporting information.
• Be aware of the differences between private people and public figures, and remember that
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 in the stories they run.
• Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges. Use
caution about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes. Balance a criminal
suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.

Act Independently

Contributors should inform the public of news stories and issues without letting
improper relationships compromise their integrity.

Contributors should:

• Always be fair, but always favor truth over balance.
• Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived, and disclose unavoidable conflicts.
• Remain active, interested, and involved members of society without letting their activities
unduly influence their duties to their readers and the public.
• Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun employment or
engagement in organizations that would compromise professional integrity.
• Hold the powerful accountable without exception.
• Maintain integrity by resisting pressure from advertisers and special interests to influence
news coverage.
• Keep a clear-eyed sense of distrust of sources offering information for favors or money.

Be Accountable

Contributors are accountable to their readers, critics, advocates and each other as
well as to the public at large.

Contributors should:

• Keep an open dialogue with the public in an effort to maintain and improve standards.
• Encourage the public to use the information they have to question and analyze news
stories on their own, and voice grievances when they feel stories are wrong.
• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
• Expose unethical practices among each other and wherever they are found to maintain
professional standards.
• Keep the same high standards to which they hold others.

This code comes from: The New Journalist Code of Ethics was inspired by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.
The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of writers, editors and other news professionals.
The present version of the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months of study and
debate among the Society’s members.
Sigma Delta Chi’s first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926.
In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996