The Oxford Student Code of Ethics

The Oxford Student

Code of Ethics

The objective of The Oxford Student is to publish a newspaper of the highest quality. Credibility, a newspaper’s most precious asset, is arduously acquired and easily squandered, especially in a small community such as Oxford. All newspapers strive to be ethical, but for a small publication like ours the need for this is ever more pertinent. One serious mistake could mean the end of the paper forever. It is up to staff members to make sure this is never so and, beyond that, to listen carefully to their individual sense of right and wrong.

The standards outlined here apply to all staff, and to all work they produce for The Oxford Student, regardless of section or whether it appears in print, on the Web or in any other format.

Professional Conduct

Balance
For a responsible newspaper to have any impact, it must be trusted. Readers do not just expect articles to be free from bias and truthful to the facts; accuracy is also essential to retaining trust.
Always look for the ‘other side’ in any story. A good article included various sources from different ‘sides’ or areas. If someone or some institution is accused of something by a source in your story, you have an absolute obligation to contact the accused party and give them the opportunity to respond.

Accuracy
Always check numbers, spellings of names, who said what, and the other basic facts of any story. Accuracy is the most important watchword of a responsible journalist, whose job it is to report the facts.  Being inaccurate at best will cause embarrassment for the newspaper or the journalist, and at worst could lead to legal action.

Quotations
We recognise that people will often speak more honestly if they are allowed to speak anonymously. The use of non-attributed quotes can therefore often assist the reader towards a truer understanding of a subject than if a journalist confined him/herself to quoting bland on-the-record quotes. But if used lazily or indiscriminately anonymous quotes become a menace. We should be honest about our sources, even if we can’t name them. The reporter and editor must be satisfied that the source has a sound factual basis for his or her assertions. Some sources quoted anonymously might tend to exaggerate or overreach precisely because they will not be named. Anonymous sources that are pejorative in nature should only be used with the strict consent of the editors. Direct quotes should not be changed to alter their context or meaning, although very minor alterations (for example the addition or subtraction of an article) are permissible.

Photography
Photographs and graphics must inform, not mislead. In photographing news, we do not stage or re-enact events, but clearly this is acceptable in other sections. We do not digitally alter images beyond making minor adjustments for colour correction, exposure correction and removal of dust spots or scratches required to ensure faithful reproduction of the original image.

Copy approval
The general rule is that no one should be given the right to copy approval. In certain circumstances we may allow people to see copy or quotes but we are not required to alter copy. We should avoid offering copy approval as a method of securing interviews or co-operation.

Plagiarism
Staff must not reproduce other people’s material without attribution. The source of published material obtained from another organisation should be acknowledged including quotes taken from other newspaper articles.  Bylines should be carried only on material that is substantially the work of the bylined journalist.

Payment
In general, The Oxford Student does not pay for stories. The Editors must approve rare exceptions.

Legal
Our libel and contempt laws are complex, and constantly developing. The consequences of losing actions may be disastrous for our reputation and the future of the paper. Staff should familiarise themselves with the Libel and Contempt of Court chapters in McNae’s Law for Journalists if they are asked to by the Editors or News Editors, or they suspect that any story they are writing may be legally questionable.

Errors and Complaints
It is the policy of The Oxford Student to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Journalists have a duty to cooperate frankly and openly with the Editors, and to report any errors to them at the earliest opportunity. All complaints should be brought to the attention of the Editors immediately.

Conflicts of interest
Staff journalists should be sensitive to the possibility that activities outside work (including holding office or being otherwise actively involved in organisations, companies or political parties) could be perceived as having a bearing on — or as coming into conflict with — the integrity of our journalism.
Staff should be transparent about any outside personal, philosophical or financial interests that might conflict with their professional performance of duties at The Oxford Student, or could be perceived to do so.

Relationships
Staff members should not write about, photograph or make news judgments about a friend or relative. A staff member who is placed in a circumstance in which the potential for this kind of conflict exists should advise their section editor.

Rights of the Individual

Press Complaints Commission Code of Conduct
The Oxford Student — in common with most other papers in Britain — considers the PCC’s Code of Conduct to be a sound statement of behaviour for journalists. All staff, regardless of section, should read and adhere to the Code of Conduct.

Oxford-specific restrictions
However, as student journalists we must be sensitive to restrictions not included in the PCC.
Oxford is a tight community. The six degrees of separation that supposedly exists among society is shortened to two degrees among college students. Everyone knows someone who's a connection to everyone else. News travels quick and bad news travels even quicker. So the question to be asked is: What is the level of privacy accorded to college students? A story that would barely make a ripple in a city paper could make a social pariah out of someone in the college setting. Though it is not the journalist's job to protect the subject of a story, practicing responsibility is a good idea. Any doubts should be discussed with the section editor in the first instance, and the Editors thereafter.

Subjects’ backgrounds
In general, we do not publish someone’s race or ethnic background, sexuality or religion unless that information is pertinent to the story.

Privacy
Journalism necessarily involves the breach of privacy to a certain degree, by reporting on individuals who may not have given consent. However, breaches of privacy in terms of family life, health or private correspondence should be avoided unless they are unavoidably relevant to a story. Serious breaches of privacy, for example by subterfuge, secret recordings or the interception of private correspondence may be acceptable, but this must be discussed with the Editors before any action is taken.

Harassment
Under no circumstances must staff engage in intimidation or persistent harassment. The PCC Code of Conduct must always be followed. Wherever possible, journalists must also follow the Proctors’ Guidelines on harassment, and breaches of this at the journalist’s own risk must be agreed by the Editors.

Photography
We cannot photograph individuals without their consent, unless they are in public places where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.

Grief and Shock
Sensitivity towards individuals involved in enquiries or approaches must be put above all other considerations. This is especially the case with victims of sex crimes.

Suicide
Journalists are asked to exercise particular care in reporting suicide or issues involving suicide, bearing in mind the risk of encouraging others. This should be borne in mind both in presentation, including the use of pictures, and in describing the method of suicide. Any substances should be referred to in general rather than specific terms if possible.

Press Complaints Commission Code of Conduct

1
   
Accuracy
   
i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.

ii) A significant inaccuracy, mis-leading statement or distortion once recognised must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and - where appropriate - an apology published.

iii) The Press, whilst free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

iv) A publication must report fairly and accurately the outcome of an action for defamation to which it has been a party, unless an agreed settlement states otherwise, or an agreed statement is published.

2
   
Opportunity to reply

A fair opportunity for reply to inaccuracies must be given when reasonably called for.

3
   
*Privacy

i) Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and correspondence, including digital communications. Editors will be expected to justify intrusions into any individual's private life without consent.

ii) It is unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent.

Note - Private places are public or private property where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

4

*Harassment

i) Journalists must not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit.

ii) They must not persist in questioning, telephoning, pursuing or photographing individuals once asked to desist; nor remain on their property when asked to leave and must not follow them.

iii) Editors must ensure these principles are observed by those working for them and take care not to use non-compliant material from other sources.

5
   
Intrusion into grief or shock

i) In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively. This should not restrict the right to report legal proceedings, such as inquests.
*ii) When reporting suicide, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail about the method used.

6

*Children

i) Young people should be free to complete their time at school without unnecessary intrusion.

ii) A child under 16 must not be interviewed or photographed on issues involving their own or another child’s welfare unless a custodial parent or similarly responsible adult consents.

iii) Pupils must not be approached or photographed at school without the permission of the school authorities.

iv) Minors must not be paid for material involving children’s welfare, nor parents or guardians for material about their children or wards, unless it is clearly in the child's interest.

v) Editors must not use the fame, notoriety or position of a parent or guardian as sole justification for publishing details of a child’s private life.

7
   
*Children in sex cases   

1. The press must not, even if legally free to do so, identify children under 16 who are victims or witnesses in cases involving sex offences.

2. In any press report of a case involving a sexual offence against a child -

i) The child must not be identified.

ii) The adult may be identified.

iii) The word "incest" must not be used where a child victim might be identified.

iv) Care must be taken that nothing in the report implies the relationship between the accused and the child.

8

*Hospitals

i) Journalists must identify them-selves and obtain permission from a responsible executive before entering non-public areas of hospitals or similar institutions to pursue enquiries.

ii) The restrictions on intruding into privacy are particularly relevant to enquiries about individuals in hospitals or similar institutions.

9
   
*Reporting of Crime   

(i) Relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of crime should not generally be identified without their consent, unless they are genuinely relevant to the story.

(ii) Particular regard should be paid to the potentially vulnerable position of children who witness, or are victims of, crime. This should not restrict the right to report legal proceedings.

10
   
*Clandestine devices and subterfuge
   

i) The press must not seek to obtain or publish material acquired by using hidden cameras or clandestine listening devices; or by intercepting private or mobile telephone calls, messages or emails; or by the unauthorised removal of documents or photographs; or by accessing digitally-held private information without consent.

ii) Engaging in misrepresentation or subterfuge, including by agents or intermediaries, can generally be justified only in the public interest and then only when the material cannot be obtained by other means.

11
   
Victims of sexual assault

The press must not identify victims of sexual assault or publish material likely to contribute to such identification unless there is adequate justification and they are legally free to do so.

12
   
Discrimination   

i) The press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual's race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability.

ii) Details of an individual's race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or disability must be avoided unless genuinely relevant to the story.

13
   
Financial journalism   

i) Even where the law does not prohibit it, journalists must not use for their own profit financial information they receive in advance of its general publication, nor should they pass such information to others.

ii) They must not write about shares or securities in whose performance they know that they or their close families have a significant financial interest without disclosing the interest to the editor or financial editor.

iii) They must not buy or sell, either directly or through nominees or agents, shares or securities about which they have written recently or about which they intend to write in the near future.

14   

Confidential sources

Journalists have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of information.

15

Witness payments in criminal trials

i) No payment or offer of payment to a witness - or any person who may reasonably be expected to be called as a witness - should be made in any case once proceedings are active as defined by the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

This prohibition lasts until the suspect has been freed unconditionally by police without charge or bail or the proceedings are otherwise discontinued; or has entered a guilty plea to the court; or, in the event of a not guilty plea, the court has announced its verdict.

*ii) Where proceedings are not yet active but are likely and foreseeable, editors must not make or offer payment to any person who may reasonably be expected to be called as a wit-ness, unless the information concerned ought demonstrably to be published in the public interest and there is an over-riding need to make or promise payment for this to be done; and all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure no financial dealings influence the evidence those witnesses give. In no circumstances should such payment be conditional on the outcome of a trial.

*iii) Any payment or offer of payment made to a person later cited to give evidence in proceedings must be disclosed to the prosecution and defence. The witness must be advised of this requirement.

16

*Payment to criminals   

i) Payment or offers of payment for stories, pictures or information, which seek to exploit a particular crime or to glorify or glamorise crime in general, must not be made directly or via agents to convicted or confessed criminals or to their associates – who may include family, friends and colleagues.

ii) Editors invoking the public interest to justify payment or offers would need to demonstrate that there was good reason to believe the public interest would be served. If, despite payment, no public interest emerged, then the material should not be published.

The public interest

There may be exceptions to the clauses marked * where they can be demonstrated to be in the public interest.

1. The public interest includes, but is not confined to:
i) Detecting or exposing crime or serious impropriety.
ii) Protecting public health and safety.
iii) Preventing the public from being misled by an action or statement of an individual or organisation.

2. There is a public interest in freedom of expression itself.

3. Whenever the public interest is invoked, the PCC will require editors to demonstrate fully how the public interest was served.

4. The PCC will consider the extent to which material is already in the public domain, or will become so.

5. In cases involving children under 16, editors must demonstrate an exceptional public interest to over-ride the normally paramount interest of the child.

Michaelmas 2007.    Ethics Code based on The Guardian Editorial Code and the LA Times Ethics Guidelines.