Alabama Public Radio

Newsroom Constitution

Established Summer 2007

PREAMBLE

Journalism is changing.

People want to know general information about what’s happening in their communities. They also want specific information and special programs on topics that match their personal interests. They want to be informed and entertained, sometimes at the same time, and they want the news in its proper context.

Print, broadcast, Internet, and a host of other news and information providers exist. People think that they can get the kind of information they want virtually anywhere. We have to prove to them that they cannot.

We are the News Department of Alabama Public Radio.

Our mission is to practice a type of journalism that’s relevant to our audience. We will provide accurate, timely and thought-provoking information. We will produce interesting and entertaining commentaries. We will speak with people who have a story to tell. We will use our web site to distinguish ourselves, not to contribute to informational clutter.

Our weekday flagship news programs – NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, APM’s Marketplace and PRI’s The World – will be well-produced and technically superior, reflecting our commitment to our listeners. These are our daily proving grounds, and we must continually prove that we are worthy of our audience’s time and attention.

We will distinguish ourselves through our professionalism. We will respect our sources, our listeners and our colleagues. We will be unyielding when it is required and sensitive when it is necessary. Above all, we will be fair.

The APR News Department exists for the benefit of Alabamians. It is their newsroom, and we are its stewards.

News Philosophy and Ethics

Alabama Public Radio believes it is the news department’s responsibility and duty to present events, occurrences, stories and issues that inform, enlighten, entertain and challenge our listeners. These reports must conform to the highest standards of accuracy, honesty, fairness and professionalism (please refer to any of several ethics codes in the newsroom for guidance). We must answer to the public, and the public will hold us responsible and accountable for our practices.

Though it will be our goal to achieve and practice these high standards, the reality is we will not always meet our goals. No profession is without fault, and that includes journalism. When this occurs, we should use the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and prevent others from repeating them. Errors should always be pointed out and corrected at the next available opportunity. However, the News Director should be made aware of the situation before any action is taken.

Our public radio format allows us to explain issues with more depth and analysis. It is a significant advantage over other broadcast media, and it should be used wisely and often. Our audience is interested in issues, opinions and compelling stories, and we avoid subjects such as isolated car crashes, drug arrests or domestic disturbances. Of course, there are always exceptions, and these should be discussed when necessary.

Professional Ethics

The Public Radio News Directors, Inc. has created a statement of professional ethics that encompasses the ideals Alabama Public Radio seeks to uphold. It follows:

Alabama Public Radio is committed to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and excellence. We must stand apart from pressures of politics and commerce as we inform and engage our listeners. We seek truth, and report with fairness and integrity. Independence and integrity are the foundations of our service, which we maintain through these principles:

TRUTH

Journalism is the rigorous pursuit of truth. Its practice requires fairness, accuracy, and balance.

We strive to be comprehensive. We seek diverse points of view and voices to tell the stories of our communities.

FAIRNESS

Fairness is at the core of all good journalism. We gather and report the news in context, with clarity and compassion. We treat our sources and the public with decency and respect. Our reporting is thorough, timely, and avoids speculation.

INTEGRITY

The public's faith in our service rests on our integrity as journalists. Editorial independence is required to ensure the integrity of our work. We identify the differences between reporting and opinion. We guard against conflicts of interest - real and perceived - that could compromise the credibility and independence of our reporting. We are accountable when conflicts occur. We disclose any unavoidable conflicts of interest.