Editorial Policy - SeoulStyle.com

Anonymous 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 New York Times policy on pejorative quotes is worth bearing in mind: “The vivid language of direct quotation confers an unfair advantage on a speaker or writer who hides behind the newspaper, and turns of phrase are valueless to a reader who cannot assess the source.”

There may be exceptional circumstances when anonymous pejorative quotes may be used, but they will be rare

* and only after consultation with the editor. * In the absence of specific approval we should paraphrase anonymous pejorative quotes.

Children Special care should be taken when dealing with children (under the age of 16). Heads of departments must be informed when children have been photographed or interviewed without parental consent

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.

Direct quotations should not be changed to alter their context or meaning.

Errors: It is the policy of SeoulStyle to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Journalists have a duty to cooperate frankly and openly with the Editors and to report errors to them. All complaints should be brought to the attention of the Executive Director or the Editorial Director.

Fairness: “The voice of opponents no less than of friends has a right to be heard . . . It is well be to be frank; it is even better to be fair” (CP Scott, 1921). The more serious the criticism or allegations we are reporting the greater the obligation to allow the subject the opportunity to respond.

Grief: People should be treated with sensitivity during periods of grief and trauma.

Language: Respect for the reader demands that we should not casually use words that are likely to offend. Use swear words only when absolutely necessary to the facts of a piece, or to portray a character in an article; there is almost never a case in which we need to use a swearword outside direct quotes. The stronger the swearword, the harder we ought to think about using it. Avoid using in headlines, pull quotes and standfirsts and never use asterisks, which are just a cop-out.

***Legal*** The libel and contempt laws are complex, and constantly developing. The consequences of losing actions can be expensive and damaging for our reputation. Staff should familiarise themselves with the current state of the law and seek training if they feel unconfident about aspects of it; Our policy is to avoid any copy which can be claimed to ‘damage’ a person or business. Thus, in the example of a restaurant whose food the reviewer has found less-than-palatable, the reviewer should find something nice to say and report that instead. Any restaurant review which lauds the colour of the tablecloths and the decor yet is silent on the food will speak volumes and keep us on the right side of the law. We feel this has an added benefit in that it encourages our reporters to become much more creative.

Payment: In general, SeoulStyle does not pay for stories, except from bona fide freelance sources. The editor or his deputies must approve rare exceptions.

Photographs: Digitally enhanced or altered images, montages and illustrations should be clearly labelled as such.

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. If an article contains a significant amount of agency copy then the agency should be credited.

Privacy: In keeping the Human Rights Act we believe in respecting people’s privacy. We should avoid intrusions into people’s privacy unless there is a clear public interest in doing so.
Caution should be exercised about reporting and publishing identifying details, such as street names and numbers, that may enable others to intrude on the privacy or safety of people who have become the subject of media coverage.

Race: In general, we do not publish someone’s race or ethnic background or religion unless that information is pertinent to the story. We do not report the race of criminal suspects unless their ethnic background is part of a description that seeks to identify them or is an important part of the story (for example, if the crime was a hate crime).

Sources: Sources promised confidentiality must be protected at all costs. However, where possible, the sources of information should be identified as specifically as possible.

Subterfuge: Journalists should generally identify themselves as SeoulStyle employees when working on a story if asked.
There may be instances involving stories of exceptional public interest where this does not apply, but this needs the approval of the executive director.

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. When appropriate a helpline number should be given. The feelings of relatives should also be carefully considered.

SeoulStyle values its reputation for independence and integrity. Journalists clearly have lives, interests, hobbies, convictions and beliefs outside their work on the paper. Nothing in the following guidelines is intended to restrict any of that. It is intended to ensure that outside interests do not come into conflict with the life of the paper in a way that either compromises SeoulStyle’s editorial integrity or falls short of the sort of transparency that our readers would expect. The code is intended to apply to all active outside interests which, should they remain undeclared and become known, would cause a fair-minded reader to question the value of a contribution to the paper by the journalist involved.

These are guidelines rather than one-size-fits-all rules. If you are employed as a columnist — with your views openly on display — you may have more latitude than a staff reporter, who would be expected to bring qualities of objectivity to their work. [The Washington Post’s Code has some sound advice: “Reporters should make every effort to remain in the audience, to stay off the stage, to report the news, not to make the news.”] If indoubt, consult editors, or the executive director.

Commercial products: No SeoulStyle journalist or freelance primarily associated with SeoulStyle should endorse commercial products unless with the express permission of the Editor or the executive director.

Confidentiality: editors with access to personal information relating to other members of staff are required to treat such information as confidential, and not disclose it to anyone except in the course of discharging formal responsibilities.

Conflicts of interest: SeoulStyle 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 which might conflict with their professional performance of duties at SeoulStyle, or could be perceived to do so.

Declarations of interest

1. It is always necessary to declare an interest when the journalist is writing about something with which he or she has a significant connection. This applies to both staff journalists and freelancers writing for the

SeoulStyle. The declaration should be to a head of department or editor during preparation. Full transparency may mean that the declaration should appear in the paper or website as well.

2. A connection does not have to be a formal one before it is necessary to declare it. Acting in an advisory capacity in the preparation of a report for an organisation, for example, would require a declaration every time the journalist wrote an article referring to it.

3. Some connections are obvious and represent the reason why the writer has been asked to contribute to the paper. These should always be stated at the end of the writer’s contribution even if he or she contributes regularly, so long as the writer is writing about his or her area of interest.

4. Generally speaking a journalist should not write about or quote a relative or partner in a piece, even if the relative or partner is an expert in the field in question. If, for any reason, an exception is made to this rule, the connection should be made clear.

5. Commissioning editors should ensure that freelancers asked to write for SeoulStyle are aware of these rules and make any necessary declaration.

Freebies

1. Staff should not use their position to obtain private benefit for themselves or others.

2. SeoulStyle and its staff will not allow any payment, gift or other advantage to undermine accuracy, fairness or independence. Any attempts to induce favourable editorial treatment through the offer of gifts or favours should be reported to the editor. Where relevant, SeoulStyle will disclose these payments, gifts or other advantages.

3. We should make it clear when an airline, hotel or other interest has borne the cost of transporting or accommodating a journalist. Acceptance of any such offer is conditional on SeoulStyle being free to assign and report or not report any resulting story as it sees fit.

4. Except in some areas of travel writing it should never need to be the case that the journalist’s partner, family or friends are included in any free arrangement. When a partner, family member or friend accompanies the journalist on a trip, the additional costs should generally be paid for by the journalist or person accompanying the journalist.

5. Staff should not be influenced by commercial considerations — including the interests of advertisers — in the preparation of material for the paper.

6. Gifts other than those of an insignificant value — say, more than $50 — should be politely returned or may be entered for the annual raffle of such items for charity, “the sleaze raffle”.

SeoulStyle Staff members should not use their positions at SeoulStyle to seek any benefit or advantage in personal business, financial or commercial transactions not afforded to the public generally. Staff should not use SeoulStyle stationery in connection with non-SeoulStyle matters or cite a connection with the paper to resolve consumer grievances, get quicker service or seek discount or deals.

Outside engagements or duties SeoulStyle accepts the journalist’s right to a private life and the right to take part in civic society. However, staff should inform their immediate editor if, in their capacity as an employee of SeoulStyle, they intend to:

1. Give evidence to any court.

2. Chair public forums or seminars arranged by professional conference organisers or commercial organisations.

3. Undertake any outside employment likely to conflict with their professional duties at SeoulStyle.

4. Chair public or political forums or appear on platforms.

5. Make representations or give evidence to any official body in connection with material which has been published in SeoulStyle.

Relationships Staff members should not write about, photograph or make news judgments about any individual related by blood or marriage or with whom the staff member has a close personal, financial or romantic relationship. A staff member who is placed in a circumstance in which the potential for this kind of conflict exists should advise the editorial director

The following is reproduced to provide a guideline to ethical conduct:

Appendix - The UK PCC Code of Conduct

The Press Complaints Commission in the UK is charged with enforcing the following Code of Practice which was framed by the newspaper and periodical industry and ratified by the Press Complaints Commission, 1st December 1999.

All members of the press have a duty to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards. This code sets the benchmark for those standards. It both protects the rights of the individual and upholds the public’s right to know.

The Code is the cornerstone of the system of self-regulation to which the UK industry has made a binding commitment. Editors and publishers must ensure that the Code is observed rigorously not only by their staff but also by anyone who contributes to their publications.

It is essential to the workings of an agreed code that it be honoured not only to the letter but in the full spirit. The

Code should not be interpreted so narrowly as to compromise its commitment to respect the rights of the individual, nor so broadly that it prevents publication in the public interest. [Items marked ** may have exceptions where they can be demonstrated to be in the public interest. See “The Public Interest” after point 16]

It is the responsibility of editors to co-operate with the PCC as swiftly as possible in the resolution of complaints.

Any publication which is criticised by the PCC under one of the following clauses must print the adjudication which follows in full and with due prominence.

1 Accuracy

i. Newspapers and periodicals should take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted material including pictures.

ii. Whenever it is recognised that a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distorted report has been published, it should be corrected promptly and with due prominence.

iii. An apology must be published whenever appropriate.

iv. Newspapers, whilst free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

v. A newspaper or periodical must report fairly and accurately the outcome of an action for defamation to which it has been a party.

2 Opportunity to reply

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

3 Privacy**

i. Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and correspondence. A publication will be expected to justify intrusions into any individual’s private life without consent.

ii. The use of long lens photography to take pictures of people in private places without their consent is unacceptable.

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

4 Harassment**

i. Journalists and photographers must neither obtain nor seek to obtain information or pictures through intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit.

ii. They must not photograph individuals in private places (as defined by the note to clause 3) without their consent; must not persist in telephoning, questioning, pursuing or photographing individuals after having been asked to desist; must not remain on their property after having been asked to leave and must not follow them.

iii. Editors must ensure that those working for them comply with these requirements and must not publish material from other sources which does not meet these requirements.

5 Intrusion into grief or shock

In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries should be carried out and approaches made with sympathy and discretion. Publication must be handled sensitively at such times but this should not be interpreted as restricting the right to report judicial proceedings.

6 Children**

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

ii. Journalists must not interview or photograph a child under the age of 16 on subjects involving the welfare of the child or any other child in the absence of or without the consent of a parent or other adult who is responsible for the children.

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

iv. There must be no payment to minors for material involving the welfare of children, nor payments to parents or Guardians for material about their children or wards unless it is demonstrably in the child’s interest.

v. Where material about the private life of a child is published, there must be justification for publication other than the fame, notoriety or position of his or her parents or guardian.

7 Children in sex cases**

1 The press must not, even where the law does not prohibit it, identify children under the age of 16 who areinvolved in cases concerning sexual offences, whether as victims or as witnesses.

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 Listening devices**

Journalists must not obtain or publish material obtained by using clandestine listening devices or by intercepting private telephone conversations.

9 Hospitals**

i. Journalists or photographers making enquiries at hospitals or similar institutions should identify themselves to a responsible executive and obtain permission before entering non-public areas.

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

10 Reporting of crime**

i. The press must avoid identifying relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of crime without their consent.

ii. Particular regard should be paid to the potentially vulnerable position of children who are witnesses to, or victims of, crime. This should not be interpreted as restricting the right to report judicial proceedings.

11 Misrepresentation**

i. Journalists must not generally obtain or seek to obtain information or pictures through misrepresentation or subterfuge.

ii. Documents or photographs should be removed only with the consent of the owner.

iii. Subterfuge can be justified only in the public interest and only when material cannot be obtained by any other means.

12 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, by law, they are free to do so.

13 Discrimination

i. The press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to a person’s race, colour, religion, sex or sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability.

ii. It must avoid publishing details of a person’s race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or disability unless these are directly relevant to the story.

14 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.

15 Confidential sources

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

16 Payment for articles**

i. Payment or offers of payment for stories or information must not be made directly or through agents to witnesses or potential witnesses in current criminal proceedings except where the material concerned ought to be published in the public interest and there is an overriding need to make or promise to make a payment for this to be done. Journalists must take every possible step to ensure that no financial dealings have influence on the evidence that those witnesses may give.

(An editor authorising such a payment must be prepared to demonstrate that there is a legitimate public interest at stake involving matters that the public has a right to know. The payment or, where accepted, the offer of payment to any witness who is actually cited to give evidence should be disclosed to the prosecution and the defence and the witness should be advised of this).

ii. Payment or offers of payment for stories, pictures or information, must not be made directly or through agents to convicted or confessed criminals or to their associates — who may include family, friends and colleagues — except where the material concerned ought to be published in the public interest and payment is necessary for this to be done.

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:

i. Detecting or exposing crime or a serious misdemeanour;

ii. Protecting public health and safety;

iii. Preventing the public from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organisation.

2 In any case where the public interest is invoked, the Press Complaints Commission will require a full explanation by the editor demonstrating how the public interest was served.

3 There is a public interest in freedom of expression itself. The Commission will therefore have regard to the extent to which material has, or is about to, become available to the public.

4 In cases involving children editors must demonstrate an exceptional public interest to override the normally paramount interest o