Editorial Guidelines and Relevance in Public Relations

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Editorial Guidelines and Relevance in Public Relations
New York Times
The reputation of The New York Times rests entirely on its goal of impartiality in news coverage and treating all its stakeholders openly and fairly. This goal is realized by eluding any conflict of interest. An apparent or actual conflict of interest is expected in the news coverage. The issue may arise due to the relationship between employees and their competitors, news sources, readers, advertisers, the newspaper, or advocacy groups. Conflicts may also occur among staff members due to differences in perception of a news item. The organization has a series of ethical guidelines that guide all staff members on maintaining impartiality and neutrality and evading any conflict of interest.
Regarding how the Times treats its sources, fairness and openness are key. Staff members should not pointlessly inquire about the source's personal life, threaten to damage the disobliging sources, or promise favors for cooperation. Furthermore, the staff should identify themselves with their sources but only with the relevant information. They should neither assert a false identity (such as that of a police officer or a lawyer) nor conceal their Times affiliations in cases of art, music, and food critics. Cultivating a relationship of trust between the staff and the source is significant. However, the former should exercise self-discipline and sound judgment to avoid favoritism and other unscrupulous practices. When a romantic relationship exists between the staff and the source, the former should report to the opinion editor for further guidance to avoid conflict of interest and partiality. In response, the employee might be transferred to another department or asked to recuse themselves from the coverage.
In covering their news items, staff members should not use illegal means. This includes tapping into their sources' cell phones or computers and breaking into their homes and offices to access private conversations and information. Both parties should be informed of any recordings except for the few instances where it is legal. Nonetheless, since some cultures value the hospitality of their guests, staff members should ensure their expenses (such as meals, accommodation, and passes into special events) are catered for by The Times except for exceptional circumstances and under the knowledge of their supervisors and opinion editors. They should not receive any payment for favorable treatment from their sources. Generally, staff members must ensure impartiality, transparency, and fairness and follow the legal channels when interacting with their news sources to maintain the organization's good reputation.
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