Ethics

Ethics

Frontier India is committed to the highest ethical standards prevalent in the worldwide news community. We strive to be fair and accurate. Public trust is one of the main pillars that drive our journalistic standards.

We are collectively responsible for the ethical standards. If in doubt, the organizational hierarchy is open for discussions on this matter. Our actions should not damage our credibility. 

If an ethical violation is noticed, one must immediately approach the organizational hierarchy.

Unidentified sources should be the last resort if other ethical methods cannot obtain the information. The anonymity must be explained by the author in the article. 

Personal attacks are strictly not allowed, and a chance for rebuttal should be given even post-publication.

Quotation and attribution should be in the exact words. Permission from the source must be obtained in the case of minor grammar, spelling corrections, and translations.

In the case of sponsorship by any individual or organization, it should be disclosed.

Company employees cannot avail gifts and complimentary services. If refusal becomes awkward, the management should be notified of the nature of the gift or favor. Samples received for reviews are treated as news releases, and they cannot be sold for personal profit.

Social media posts should be responsible, and they should be distinctively different from the respective beat. For example, a reporter covering the military can review movies or restaurants in his personal capacity. It should not reflect the organizational opinion. 

In the case of conflict of interest, while covering a beat, the management should be notified.

Freelancing is allowed provided it is done outside the office work time, and the company resources should not be used. The company reserves the right to publish the article first. In case the same article or modified article is published in other media, credit to Frontier India is a must.

Fact-Checking

Reporters, authors, and guest authors are required to be precise with their words. Proverbially, a pen is mightier than a sword, and a pen draws a picture with words and images, so it must be wielded responsibly. Content generators must act responsibly. Their responsibility includes verification of the information they gather. Not just names and positions, a content generator should consist of factual statements and accounts. Content generators conduct their own fact-checking using their judgment guided by the ethics policy. Frontier India will use fact-checkers in the circumstances it deems warranted.