El Inde offers the best written and multimedia journalism being produced by students at the University of Arizona School of Journalism. We produce original content during the fall and spring semesters, and also draw original material from Journalism School media: The Tombstone Epitaph, El Independiente, Arizona Cat’s Eye. All material may be reproduced for free with byline and credit to El Inde, please.
El Inde Ethics Guidelines
As the University of Arizona School of Journalism’s portal for student journalism, El Inde upholds a strong foundation in journalism ethics that informs students’ work during their time in the program—and beyond.
The following guidelines were drafted in Fall 2019, inspired by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, the College Media Association’s Professional and Personal Codes, the Associated Press’ common AP Style guidelines, The New York Times’ Guidelines on Integrity, and the National Press Photographer’s Association (NPPA) Code of Ethics.
1. We take responsibility for the accuracy of our work: We never plagiarize or fabricate. When we use facts gathered by any other organization, we attribute them. We always credit the source of anything we publish.
We do not change the content of an image. If we use other people’s images in their projects, we have to provide instructors with a written release.
2. We clearly identify ourselves as journalists so people can decide whether to talk to us. We inform sources that the story could be published for everyone to see.
3. We do not misrepresent our identity in order to get a story. We do not pay for access to coverage.
4. We will give professors and/or editors access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate, and will provide our editors with contacts for primary sources and links to secondary sources.
5. We, as writers, photographers, producers, are our own principal fact checkers. We respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness. We acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently. We explain corrections and clarifications.
6. We avoid stereotyping and seek diversity of thought, sources and ideas in all our reporting.
7. Anonymity of authors or sources is to be avoided except in rare cases (such as privacy, possible threats to subject’s family or fear for subjet’s safety or even life). We must confer with our instructor before considering granting anonymity, and if granted, the reasoning should be explained in the story.
8. We avoid conflicts of interest. We disclose unavoidable possible conflicts with our instructor before publication.
9. We refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, and damage our credibility.
10. Online stories are part of El Inde and a historical record of the UA School of Journalism. Yet sometimes, after a story has been published on ASN, reporters or sources may be unhappy with it and request that it be taken down.
We will consider doing so on a case-by-case basis, but typically, we’ll commit to removing a story from the web only if:
–We have found proof of plagiarism or fabrication.
–The safety of the subject featured in the story is at stake.
In other instances, we may opt for making a correction to the piece and explaining the changes.