EDITORIAL POLICY GUIDELINES & OBJECTIVES

General

The character and philosophy of TRUTH MEDIA are shaped by the editorial guidelines and objectives outlined below. These have been developed and adopted by the institution’s management and comprise the fundamental rules governing all editorial content across our media platforms.

Divided into three (3) sections, these guidelines address both broad and specific issues related to policy, professionalism, operations and administration, as well as journalistic conduct in the sourcing and compilation of news, features, documentaries, editorials, and commentaries.

While placing obligations on the institution and all members of the editorial team, these guidelines require the unwavering personal and professional commitment of all editorial executives and staff. Management and other team members are mandated to meet regularly to monitor progress in achieving the objectives outlined in these guidelines, as established by the institution’s Board and shareholders.

PART I

(A) POLICY GUIDELINES

TRUTH MEDIA believes its news and information platforms play a crucial role in the development of Sierra Leone, Africa, and other regions where the company is represented.

This belief is grounded in the recognition of the responsibilities and influence of a free press in modern society. The institution acknowledges the following:

• Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press are fundamental elements of any democracy, whether fully established or emerging. A free, independent press is one of the most important institutions in a democratic society.
• As a social institution, the press carries crucial responsibilities by disseminating information, encouraging debate, and providing analysis and critical commentary. The press is especially responsible for ensuring that a wide range of views are expressed.
• The press protects Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Media and must resist any pressure from individuals or institutions seeking to obstruct the free flow of factual, accurate information, access to sources, or open debate on matters of public importance.
• It is the duty of the press to publish information that belongs in the public domain, to disclose events and issues that should be subjected to public scrutiny, debate, and analysis, and to adhere to the universally accepted principle that the press’s primary responsibility is to the people.
• The press must safeguard individuals against injustices or neglect committed by public authorities, private entities, or other institutions.

Core Values

1. Independence: The institution’s news platforms must operate independently of vested interests or external influences. Content must be comprehensive, accurate and fair, with a commitment to ascertaining and verifying the truth of what is published, to the fullest extent possible.
2. Accuracy: Veracity and accuracy are essential components of the editorial policy. Editors will only publish content they believe to be true, fair, and accurate. Efforts will be made to ensure factual accuracy through methods such as cross-checking facts and using tape recorders or other recording devices.
3. News Value: Editorial content will be selected based on its inherent news value, not in response to political, commercial, or other external interests. Advertisements and related material will be clearly marked as such. Editors and journalists must assess the relevance of each story by considering the “so what?” factor to determine its significance to the public.
4. Differentiation of Content: The institution’s news outlets will clearly distinguish between opinion and news. Opinions, whether those of external contributors or the institution itself, will be clearly identified in specific columns or programs. For contributors, articles will include a biographical note and, where appropriate, a disclosure of their political affiliations. In broadcast media, disclaimers will clarify when the views expressed do not reflect those of the institution.
5. Social Harmony: The institution promotes racial, ethnic, religious and political tolerance and other forms of pluralism. It aims to help audiences understand events in perspective and to foster mutual understanding among different communities.
6. Democracy and Governance: The institution supports principles of democracy, such as good governance, transparency, accountability, free and fair elections and social equity. It also promotes the role of credible civil society organizations (CSOs) in advancing democracy and protecting human rights and civil liberties.
7. Public Debate: The institution encourages public debate on matters of national importance, with the aim of contributing to policy and behavioural change for the public good.
8. Media Freedom: The institution promotes media freedom in the regions where it operates, balancing this with a strong sense of social responsibility.
9. Regional Cooperation: The institution supports efforts toward regional integration in West Africa where practical and beneficial to the people. It seeks to offer independent news coverage, avoiding mere repetition of articles from other sources or agencies.
10. Advocacy for the Disadvantaged: The institution will use its platforms to advocate for the underprivileged and marginalized groups, addressing injustices without fear or favour. It will pay particular attention to gender issues, rural communities and minority groups.

Role of Editors

Editors will not shy away from objective and constructive criticism of any individual, group, policy, or action when such criticism is based on a thorough and accurate assessment of the facts and is offered in the public interest.

Social Obligations

1. The institution supports a free enterprise, market-driven approach to economic development. However, its editors are encouraged to foster discussion and debate on alternative viewpoints. No single sector, community, or editorial objective will dominate the media platforms.
2. Public awareness is essential for national mobilization. Therefore, the institution will support efforts to address national disasters, such as flooding, drought, famine, epidemicsand other humanitarian crises.

Professional Obligations

The institution’s news platforms will be authoritative, broad in coverage and intelligent in presentation. They will encourage the expression of African perspectives and thought through contributions from experts offering professional expertise and reasoned opinions on topical issues. Coverage will avoid generalizations where specific information is more appropriate, and maintain a balance between national and international focus.

A constant effort will be made to improve literary, grammatical, and editorial standards, prioritizing clarity, comprehension, accuracy, and balance.

The layout of the institution’s media platforms, including online editions, may change periodically. However, the fundamental principle remains to present editorial content in an attractive, disciplined, sober and non-sensationalist manner across all platforms, whether in print, broadcast, or online.

The institution is committed to training its editorial staff to meet internationally recognized standards. Recruitment is rigorous, seeking qualified journalists or trainees with proven abilities. Staff undergo structured training programs, including, where possible, international exposure. The institution also strives to maintain a balance of geographical, ethnic, and gender representation among its employees.

PART II

(A) EDITORIAL OBJECTIVES

This section outlines specific editorial objectives that each staff member is obligated to meet. These objectives must be treated as mandatory expectations in daily editorial work and will be regularly reviewed with the institutions Editorial Board.

1. The company’s objective is to elevate the media outlets to a standard of authority, balance, credibility and presentation comparable to leading global media platforms. To achieve this, the institution will provide the expertise necessary for an overall improvement in professional skills and standards. Training editors will assist staff in enhancing their performance, and staff are required to consult with them whenever in doubt. Staff are also expected to address any identified weaknesses in their work with diligence.
2. Our media platforms will avoid publishing “non-news” content such as empty statements, ceremonial occasions, or releases whose primary objective is to generate publicity for individuals, groups, or organizations.
3. Our outlets will reflect a preference for enterprising news management, steering away from routine assignments and political or charitable events of little or no news value.
4. News stories from outside sources will not be accepted without verification. Names, ages, titles, and contrary views (where applicable) must be thoroughly verified before submission for publication.
5. Specialized language and expressions (e.g., in medicine, economics, religion, legal cases) must be carefully and accurately translated into English and/or Krio for better clarity.
6. Generally, lists of names from official functions should be omitted from stories unless they provide vital context.
7. Stories should focus on events themselves, not on the names of officials associated with them. For example, a magistrate’s name and title should only be published if not directly relevant to the case.
8. Unnecessary obscure facts, such as car registration numbers in court or theft cases, and lists of minor personal effects or funeral arrangements, should be avoided.
9. The institution’s editorials must be well-researched, balanced, constructive, and informative. They represent the voice of the institution and should offer clear, well-reasoned arguments without repetition.
10. Unsolicited features from commercial interests, pressure groups, or vested interests will generally not be accepted. Exceptionally, if a feature is deemed to have news value, it will be edited to fit the outlet’s style and clearly identify its source.
11. Women’s coverage will not be limited to cosmetic and domestic issues but will address key women’s concerns across the African continent.
12. Editors must avoid vulgar, tasteless material, including irresponsible celebrity gossip.
13. Pictures, graphics and cartoons that lack relevance or significance will be rejected. Visual content should be lively, well-composed and meaningful.
14. Public relations material must be used judiciously. However, press releases on topics of genuine public interest, such as corporate results or major company events, may be utilized, with all stories based on such material rewritten in the Group’s style. Care must be taken not to distort or misrepresent the facts.
15. Sports coverage must reflect both popular and minority interests. Regular updates on results and major events will be mandatory.
16. Columnists and commentators, whether in-house or external, must be clearly identified by name and affiliation.
17. The institution will prioritize issue-based journalism over personality-based journalism to avoid creating the impression that issues are driven by personal agendas. Gossip and rumours related to public figures must be avoided unless substantiated and attributable.
18. While individual journalists may have personal political or religious views, they are expected to remain neutral and avoid allowing those views to influence their editorial judgment.
19. The institution will organize periodic editorial agenda-setting sessions to encourage innovative news management and to discuss editorial direction with staff.
20. The Editorial Policy Guidelines and Objectives will be regularly reviewed to ensure they remain relevant. Journalists should refer to these guidelines frequently to guide their writing, production, and presentation. Performance will be judged on their ability to implement and uphold these standards.

(B) OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OBJECTIVES

PART III

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES: CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS FOR JOURNALISTS

The following code serves as a guide for all individuals working for TRUTH MEDIA. It is based on the premise that journalists must uphold the highest professional and ethical standards, respecting the fundamental right of individuals to be informed and to freely receive and disseminate information.

Accuracy, Fairness and Objectivity – Journalists are committed to reporting fairly, accurately, and without bias on matters of public interest. All relevant sides of a story should be included, and comments should be sought from those mentioned in an unfavourable context.

Corrections – Any recognized inaccuracies or misleading information in published reports should be corrected promptly. Corrections should focus on presenting the correct information rather than restating the error, except where necessary for clarity. Corrections should ideally be placed in a similar format and position as the original error.

Apologies– Corrections do not typically require an apology. Apologies should only be issued based on legal advice.

Opportunity and Right to Reply– Individuals or organizations should be given a fair opportunity to reply to inaccuracies. Replies can be published in full or edited, but important portions addressing the accuracy of the story should not be omitted. If the editor doubts the veracity of the reply, it should be published with an editorial comment, based on substantiated evidence.

Letters to the Editor– Editors are not obligated to publish all letters on a controversial subject. They may select letters that offer a balanced view of the issue. In electronic media, broadcastersshould make reasonable efforts to present significant viewpoints fairly within a reasonable timeframe.

End of Debate– Editors have the discretion to conclude debates on controversial subjects when necessary. Publication of letters should not be suppressed solely due to the editor’s disagreement with the content.

Unnamed Sources– Unnamed sources should only be used when their anonymity is crucial for truth-seeking or if they request confidentiality. The article should explain why the source is unnamed.

Confidentiality– Complete confidentiality promised to sources should be respected in accordance with legal frameworks. Journalists have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources.

Misrepresentation– Journalists should identify themselves and avoid obtaining information through misrepresentation or deceit. Documents or photos should only be used with the owner’s consent unless they serve a significant public interest.

Justifiable Subterfuge– Subterfuge is only acceptable in the public interest when no other means are available, such as detecting crime or protecting public health.

Obscenity, Taste and Tone in Reporting– The media should avoid publishing obscene, vulgar, or offensive content. Stories, photos, or cartoons should have significant news value to justify their inclusion.

Good Taste– Content should be evaluated based on prevailing social norms. It should not be vulgar, mere pornography, or invasive of privacy unless there is a clear public interest.

Sensitive Content– Publication of disturbing or violent images should be avoided unless serving a larger public interest. Television stations should exercise particular care when broadcasting to a young audience.

Paying for News and Articles– Paying for information can undermine credibility. Journalists should avoid such practices and disclose any financial interests related to the content they cover.

Plagiarism– Using someone else’s work without attribution is a serious breach. Ideas from other sources should be acknowledged, and directly quoted material should be properly attributed. Work should be distinguishable from the reporter’s own.

Avoiding Prejudice– Media should avoid prejudicial references to race, religion, sex, or other personal characteristics unless directly relevant to the story. Equal treatment of all news subjects and sources is essential.

Recording Interviews and Telephone Conversations– Journalists should generally not record interviews or conversations without consent, except in rare cases to protect against legal issues or for public meetings. Recording with consent is encouraged for accuracy.

Balancing Privacy and Public Interest– Intrusion into private lives should be avoided unless there is a clear and legitimate public interest. Privacy concerns include personal affairs and health, except where these impact public welfare.

Handling Sensitive Situations– When reporting on grief or shock, journalists should approach with empathy and discretion.

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest– Journalists should not profit from financial information or write about securities in which they or their close associates have a financial interest without disclosure.

Zero Tolerance for Corruption– Journalists and editors must remain free from obligations that compromise integrity. Gifts, bribes, and special privileges should be avoided. Political or religious affiliations should not influence editorial judgment.

Respecting the Privacy of Relatives– The media should avoid identifying relatives or friends of individuals involved in crime unless necessary for accurate reporting.

Acts of Violence/ Avoiding Glorification– Media should not glorify violence or terrorism. Content should not encourage or sensationalize social evils or hostilities.

Balanced Reporting– News related to ethnic or religious disputes should be verified and presented with balance and caution. Sensationalism and provocative content should be avoided.

Headlines– Headlines should not be sensational or provocative. They must accurately reflect the content of the story and, when necessary, identify sources or use quotation marks.

Fair Criticism of Judicial Officers– Journalists should avoid unfair criticism of judges or judicial officers. Such criticism should not imply extraneous motives.

Editor’s Responsibility– Editors are responsible for all content, including advertisements, in print media and broadcasts.

Comment, Conjecture, and Fact– Journalists should clearly differentiate between comments, conjecture, and facts, ensuring that readers can distinguish between them.

Protection of Children– Children should not be identified in cases involving sexual offences. When unavoidable, their identities should be masked.

Victims of Sex Crimes– The media should avoid identifying victims of sexual crimes and ensure that their privacy is protected.

Use of Pictures and Names– The use of pictures and names should be cautious, avoiding harm to individuals unless there is substantial public interest.

Accuracy Verification– Editors should verify the accuracy of reports, particularly those containing defamatory content, before publication. Disclaimed responsibility should be explicitly stated.

Advertisements– Advertisements must comply with ethical standards and should not contravene these principles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the editorial policy of TRUTH MEDIA serves as a comprehensive framework designed to uphold the highest standards of journalism. It is imperative that every individual associated with our media organization adheres to these principles to maintain the integrity, credibility and trust of our audience.

Commitment to Excellence– Our commitment to accuracy, fairness, and ethical reporting is the foundation upon which our reputation rests. We strive to provide balanced and objective coverage, respecting the rights of individuals and ensuring that all perspectives are represented.

Responsibility and Accountability– All journalists, editors, and staff members are responsible for upholding the guidelines set forth in this policy. Accountability for adherence to these standards is paramount, and any deviation must be addressed promptly and transparently.

Continuous Improvement– We recognize that the media landscape is dynamic, and our editorial policy must evolve to address emerging challenges and opportunities. Regular reviews and updates to this policy will be conducted to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in maintaining the highest standards of journalistic practice.

Engagement and Feedback– We encourage feedback from our audience, stakeholders, and staff to continually refine and enhance our editorial practices. Open dialogue and constructive criticism are integral to our commitment to excellence.

By embracing this editorial policy, TRUTH MEDIA reaffirms its dedication to ethical journalism and the public’s right to accurate and responsible information. Together, we will continue to build on our legacy of trust and integrity, serving the public with unwavering commitment and professionalism.