This Editorial Charter defines
the criteria for the definition
& the conduct for the dissemination
of news.
I. NEWSWORTHINESS
We must discover & cover what we regard as widely-relevant – therefore -newsworthy – rather than report what is widely-regarded as news defined by dominant narratives in the media and public discourse.
Journalists exist to write newspapers, not read them.
What is important?
- circumstances posing a profound threat/reward to humanity;
- disaster, natural & manmade
- political & economic change
- advancements in science, technology & medicine
- unbelievable-but-real imagery
We are an objective news source.
Our only opinion should be the relevance of the news;
conveyed in the fact that we are covering it – not how we are covering it.
II. LANGUAGE
Precise, concise: our audience deserves better than to be expected to infer through ambiguity, vagueness, exaggeration or suspense…
- A headline should tell the story – not allude to it, pose a question, or frame the matter in an indirect or speculative way – these go against the editorial judgment which should be exercised in the headline’s writing.
- Following the headline, context should flow – it is a news story; who, what, where, when; but why – only if it can be cited with credibility.
- Quotations vs paraphrasing = objectivity vs inference.
III. VISUALS & SEQUENCES
If a picture speaks a thousand words, a two-minute video at 60 frames a second is half of War and Peace. The first frame is seen by most; the last, by least.
- Sequences should be structured so that the central element justifying the story’s coverage is lead with.
- Our audience should understand from the outset why this story is news, not simply that this story is news. They need no reason to be our audience other than their own agency & reason. Time is of the essence, though the news never sleeps.