Honest

Be transparent.

Provide accurate content written with non-biased language. Clearly identify opinionated content. Fight disinformation, or the act of intentionally deceiving in content and algorithms.

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)’s Code of Ethics

Adapted from SPJ’s code of ethics.

Seek truth and write it
Take responsibility for the accuracy of your writing. Verify information before publishing it.
Neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy.
Provide context. Take special care not to misrepresent or oversimplify when promoting, previewing, or summarizing.
Gather, update, and correct information.
Identify sources clearly and provide access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate.
Avoid stereotyping.
Never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information. Clearly label illustrations.
Never plagiarize. Always attribute, including visual information.
Minimize harm
Show compassion for those who may be affected by information. Use heightened sensitivity when dealing with younger audiences. Consider cultural differences in approach and treatment.
Consider the long-term implications of the extended reach and permanence of publication. Provide updated and more complete information as appropriate.
Act independently
Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
Refuse gifts of any kind and avoid any outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.
Resist internal and external pressure to influence information or information architecture.
Be accountable and transparent
Explain ethical choices and processes to audiences. Encourage a civil dialogue with the public about content.
Respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity, and fairness.
Acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently.
Abide by the same high standards expected of others.

Misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation

Understand what misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation are and how to avoid them. Take Checkology’s news literacy course to develop these skills, or read the disinformation, misinformation, malinformation overview from Level Up MN.

Understand what the difference is between mis-, dis-, and mal-information
Avoid sowing confusion, which may break down the concept of truth.
Avoid and refute misinformation
Misinformation is false information created and spread without the intent to cause harm, though it can often lead to harm.
Avoid and refute disinformation
Disinformation is intentionally created to and spread to cause harm, targeting certain types of audiences to achieve some goal. It is often refered to as “fake news”.
Avoid and refute malinformation
Malinformation is true information that is spread to cause harm.