Prime 9ja Online Principles of Ethical Conduct For Newsrooms
Prime 9ja Online Media's Principles of Ethical Conduct for Newsrooms guide our journalists and staff members working across various news platforms, including our website, mobile devices, social media channels, and live events.
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I. Seeking and reporting the truth in a truthful way
At Prime 9ja Online, we uphold honesty and integrity in the way we gather, report, and present news. We are dedicated to providing relevant, persistent, contextual, thorough, balanced, and fair coverage.
We strive to understand the communities, individuals, and issues we cover, ensuring that our reporting is well-informed and accurate.
Our editorials and opinion pieces adhere to the same standards of accuracy as our news stories.
We approach information from unofficial sources, including social media, with scepticism, and make efforts to corroborate the information.
When utilizing news content from external sources, we assess the credibility of the source and evaluate the value and accuracy of the information provided.
II. Serving the public interest
Prime 9ja Online is committed to upholding First Amendment principles to serve the democratic process.
We act as vigilant watchdogs, holding government and institutions accountable and ensuring transparency in the public's interest.
We not only uncover problems and wrongdoing but also seek solutions to effect positive change within the communities we serve.
We provide platforms for diverse voices and perspectives to foster public dialogue and understanding.
We reflect and encourage understanding of the diverse segments of our community.
Through our editorials and community leadership, we aim to promote an understanding of complex issues.
In sharing opinion articles, we strive to encourage views that foster understanding, insight, and civil discourse, representing various perspectives on a particular topic.
During public safety emergencies and other appropriate situations, such as elections, we may consider providing free access to some news coverage as a public service.
III. Exercising fair play
At Prime 9ja Online, we treat people with respect and compassion.
We promptly correct errors and strive to include all relevant sides of a story.
If immediate inclusion of important perspectives is not possible, we provide updates and additional sources whenever available.
We promote transparency and engagement by explaining our journalistic processes to our audiences.
We are particularly mindful of fairness in our interactions with individuals unaccustomed to dealing with the news media.
Confidential sources are utilized as the sole basis for published information only as a last resort and in adherence to specific procedures that serve the public's right to know.
IV. Maintaining independence
We maintain the independence of Prime 9ja Online, ensuring that our news reporting is free from outside interests, investments, or business relationships that may compromise credibility.
We maintain an impartial, arm's-length relationship with anyone seeking to influence the news.
We do not support political campaigns or causes through displays of personal preferences, such as bumper stickers, signs, pins, public/private donations, participation in demonstrations, petitions, or social media posts.
Individual viewpoints that may raise questions about our impartiality in news coverage remain private. This principle does not apply to those who are paid to write and share opinions.
We actively avoid potential conflicts of interest and eliminate inappropriate influences on our content.
We uphold our commitment to free, unbiased journalism by avoiding the blurring of lines between advertising and editorial content. We provide appropriate disclosures, maintain transparency, and avoid actual or implicit commercial endorsements by our journalists.
When sponsorships of news are deemed appropriate, they do not determine, change, or restrict content.
V. Acting with integrity
Prime 9ja Online journalists and staff members conduct themselves honourably and ethically in their interactions with news sources, the public, and colleagues.
We adhere to the law and observe standards of decency.
We take responsibility for our decisions and consider the potential consequences of our actions.
Conscientiousness guides our adherence to these principles.
We utilize technological tools skillfully and thoughtfully, avoiding approaches that may skew facts, distort reality, or sensationalize events.
We uphold the principles of not plagiarizing or fabricating information.
We do not alter photos, videos, or audio to misrepresent events or mislead our audiences.
Ethical Guidelines and Policy for Prime 9ja Online Journalists Regarding AI-Generated or Assisted Content
PURPOSE
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is an emerging tool in journalism. However, before utilizing any AI-generated content, journalists at Prime 9ja Online must discuss its purpose and production with their editors. This policy aims to provide ethical guidelines for journalists using AI-generated or assisted content, ensuring transparency, accuracy, fairness, and accountability in their reporting. If the use of AI-generated or assisted content is deemed acceptable or warranted, the following guidelines apply:
TRANSPARENCY & DISCLOSURE
As AI is not transparent about its own sources, journalists must treat AI-generated content as they would "off the record" sources. While AI-generated content can provide ideas and leads, journalists must confirm the information with "on-the-record" sources.
ACCURACY & VERIFICATION
If AI-assisted content is approved for publication, journalists must disclose the use of AI and its limitations to their audience. All AI-generated content must be verified for accuracy and factuality before being used in reporting. Journalists are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and error-free nature of the content they utilize.
EDITORIAL JUDGMENT
Journalists must maintain their professional judgment and decision-making abilities when using AI-generated content. They must ensure that the content aligns with Prime 9ja Online's editorial standards and values.
FAIR USE
Journalists must comply with legal and ethical considerations of fair use when utilizing AI-generated content, ensuring they do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others.
AI VISUAL TOOLS (Dall-E & Others)
AI-generated visual content serves an illustrative purpose and does not accurately represent real situations or genuine moments. Approval from a managing editor or higher, the photo and video director, or the standards editor is required for the potential use of AI-generated visual content. Full disclosure to the viewer is essential, especially for photo-realistic content that could be mistaken as a depiction of real people or places. In general, such generated images do not have a place in daily or breaking "news" coverage.
PRIVACY & DATA PROTECTION
Journalists must ensure that the use of AI-generated content does not violate the privacy rights of individuals. The collection and utilization of data for generating content must comply with relevant data protection laws.
BIAS & DISCRIMINATION
Journalists must be aware of potential biases in AI-generated content and ensure that it does not discriminate against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.
SAFETY & SECURITY
Journalists must consider the potential risks associated with using AI-generated content for public safety and security. The content utilized must not contribute to disinformation or misinformation that may cause harm.
ACCOUNTABILITY & RESPONSIBILITY
Journalists must take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies in the AI-generated content they use. They are accountable to their audience and must take corrective action if errors are identified.
INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY
Journalists must ensure that the use of AI-generated content reflects inclusivity and diversity, representing the diverse perspectives of our audience.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Journalists must receive adequate training and development to effectively and ethically utilize AI-generated content. They should stay informed about the latest developments in AI technology and its ethical implications.
CONCLUSION
These ethical guidelines and policies are designed to ensure that journalists at Prime 9ja Online use AI-generated content transparently, accurately, fairly, and accountably. Adhering to these guidelines upholds the highest standards of journalism and maintains the trust of our audience. While embracing technology, journalists should remain mindful of the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on AI in their daily work. These guidelines may be periodically revised to address the evolving ethical implications of AI technology.