11. Responsibility for Content Provided by the General Public
11.1. User Generated Content/Eyewitness News
A Media Outlet shall ensure that the same principles of checking for accuracy, legal, and ethical compliance are applied to journalistic content sourced from the general public (UGC or Eyewitness News content) as with all content it publishes.
Does your Media Outlet publish any content that comes not from staff or freelancers but from external sources such as readers/viewers?
YesDoes your Media Outlet have set structures to ensure the checking of externally sourced material undergoes the same principles as that created entirely by its own journalists?
Yes11.2. Editorial Guidelines for UGC/Eyewitness News
There should be specific categories within the Media Outlet’s Editorial Guidelines for dealing with User Generated Content (UGC) or Eyewitness News and these should be publicly accessible. In relation to this type of content the guidelines shall indicate the verification process to be used, how the content should be published with any labelling required and include guidance on dealing with the content providers in a responsible manner.
Do your Editorial Guidelines also include provisions for externally-submitted material?
YesAre there Editorial Guidelines dealing with UGC/eyewitness news content?
YesDo they include details on the verification processes to be used for this content?
NoDo they include guidance on the appropriate labelling of such content?
NoDo they include guidance on dealing with the providers of such content in a responsible and ethical manner?
No11.3. Opinion Guidelines
In relation to opinion or comment pieces the guidelines should set clear requirements of the ethical principles expected which may include but is not limited to prohibition of comment due to defamation, privacy, hate speech and harassment. The Media Outlet should make clear its policy on the moderation of such content, whether it is pre or post publication, and its policy on take-down, notice and appeal provisions.
Do your Editorial Guidelines also include provision for ensuring comment material is free from defamation?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Respecting the principle of democracy, as well as the right of citizens to freely and critically express their opinion about phenomena, processes, events and personalities, with the aim of developing a culture of public dialogue, comments that insult the dignity of persons or contain threats, hate speech, unverified accusations, such as and racist messages. Comments that violate national, religious and gender equality or encourage hatred towards the LGBT population are also not allowed. Comments written in capital letters and voluminous "copy/paste" contents of books and publications will not be published either. We reserve the right to shorten comments.
Do your Editorial Guidelines also include provision for ensuring comment material is free from invasions of privacy?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Do your Editorial Guidelines also include provision for ensuring comment material is free from hate speech?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Respecting the principle of democracy, as well as the right of citizens to freely and critically express their opinion about phenomena, processes, events and personalities, with the aim of developing a culture of public dialogue, comments that insult the dignity of persons or contain threats, hate speech, unverified accusations, such as and racist messages. Comments that violate national, religious and gender equality or encourage hatred towards the LGBT population are also not allowed. Comments written in capital letters and voluminous "copy/paste" contents of books and publications will not be published either. We reserve the right to shorten comments.
Do your Editorial Guidelines also include provision for ensuring comment material is free from harassment?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Respecting the principle of democracy, as well as the right of citizens to freely and critically express their opinion about phenomena, processes, events and personalities, with the aim of developing a culture of public dialogue, comments that insult the dignity of persons or contain threats, hate speech, unverified accusations, such as and racist messages. Comments that violate national, religious and gender equality or encourage hatred towards the LGBT population are also not allowed. Comments written in capital letters and voluminous "copy/paste" contents of books and publications will not be published either. We reserve the right to shorten comments.