Ethics/Confidential information – The do's and the don'ts | #mediadev | DW | 10.10.2016
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Social media guidelines for radio stations

Ethics/Confidential information – The do's and the don'ts

The same journalistic ethics apply in the online world as offline: act independently, seek and report the truth, and minimize harm.

  • Be true to your journalistic standards: No matter what platform you use, always maintain high standards when providing information to the public. If using social media as an information-gathering tool, apply the same standards as those for any other source of newsgathering. You should also apply those principles and values when it comes to your personal use of social media.
  • Watch what you disclose. Don't post confidential or proprietary station information. Station staff are not allowed to disclose information that relates to financial, operational and legal matters as well as information about sources and the station's business partners/advertisers.
  • Respect copyright. Always respect the legal rights of trademark, copyright and fair-use laws. Make sure you have the right to something before you publish it and always give credit for other people's work.
  • Be transparent. Let your editors and audience know when you're using information exclusively from social media. (See Verification.)
  • Get consent. Obtain informed consent from sources, just like you would if reporting the traditional way. Tell them who you are, what you're looking for and where your story will or might run. Since social media sites are more informal, potential sources might more easily misunderstand your intentions and the impact of cooperating.


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