Ethics and Policies
The Belmont Voice will adhere to the highest ethical standards in journalism as outlined in the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Our goal is to provide fair, accurate, and compelling journalism to the Belmont community.
The Belmont Voice is non-partisan and non-profit. It does not endorse candidates nor favor any candidate for public office in coverage or other action. We are independent. Our goal is to inform and educate, leaving it to the news consumer to determine their own position.
Above all, we are committed to listening carefully and respecting all members of the community. We approach all interviews and stories with the recognition of the need to balance the public’s right to know with respect for individuals involved. When we report on traumatic situations, our aim is to minimize harm. We do not impede the work of first responders, and we should not compound a victim’s trauma. We ask questions with tact and sensitivity.
We will seek out the facts from multiple perspectives, and we will not publish until the reporting is accurate, edited, and complete.
Independence
Our journalists avoid all conflicts of interest and do not accept payment, gifts, free tickets, or other perks from sources. The only exception to this policy is that our journalists will accept press tickets to events that they are covering for the newspaper. A reporter or editor will not accept payment from any person, company, or organization that is the subject of their reporting. Our journalists do not participate in partisan political activities relating to the Belmont community. In gathering news, journalists introduce themselves as journalists and do not misrepresent their identities or their occupations.
Sources
Our goal is to seek sources from different perspectives on a subject, including both decision makers and the people affected by a decision. We strive to get a wide diversity of sources to provide background and subject area expertise.
We name our sources except in rare cases where sources could be in danger or face retribution. We avoid using pseudonyms. If a source wishes to remain anonymous, we try to find another source to verify the information. We endeavor to have at least two sources for a story. A source could be a relevant document.
Reporters do not assume that sources know that they are on the record. Reporters identify themselves as journalists and inform the source that what the source says could be published. If a source asks to be OFF the record, reporters ensure that both the reporter and the source have the same understanding of what this means. For example, a source may confirm whether information can be used but not attributed to that person. Or a source may only be willing to speak on deep background. Reporters do not agree to deep background without consulting with an editor.
We do not let sources decide what quotes we publish. We do not allow a source to read an article before publication. In cases of complicated technical language, a reporter can read relevant paragraphs to the source to confirm accuracy.
Language and Images
We avoid profanity and other offensive language or graphic images unless such language or images are integral to a story. In that context, language and images are published with a content warning.
Corrections
When we make an error, we publish a correction online as soon as we learn of the error and in print in the next edition.
Social Media
Social media should be used by reporters and editors to extend the paper’s reach and draw eyeballs to the reporter’s professional work. It is also used to find sources and direct quotes with attribution. We always verify that any social media posts are accurate before inclusion in a story.
Social media should not be used by reporters and editors to share personal opinions. Our journalists should not “like” anything that would compromise their role as an unbiased reporter or post anything that could be seen as promoting a particular product, business, political party, or ideology.
In general, we do not want to take readers away from the newspaper’s website by including links to external websites. But on occasion reporters may insert a link to relevant documents or prior reporting. In illustrating a story, journalists should not post links to illegal or offensive activity even if it may be relevant to the story.
Reporters should be mindful of copyright laws and should not post any content that infringes on the copyright of others. If a reporter is sharing someone else’s work, they should give credit where credit is due.
Our reporters should behave respectfully and professionally. Social media is a public space, and a reporter’s behavior can reflect on the publication. Reporters should not engage in personal attacks or use offensive language.
Transparency
We must be transparent about what we saw firsthand and what we gleaned from other media or external sources. If we publish press releases or other unedited content contributed by community members or businesses, such content is clearly labeled to help the public differentiate it from news coverage.
We are a non-profit newspaper. We are transparent about our sources of revenue. We name any donors contributing $5,000 or more in a year. We ensure that anonymous funding doesn’t make up a significant part of our revenue and totals no more than 15% of total revenue. We include disclaimers at the bottom of stories about any company, organization, or public issue in which a director, executive, or editorial staffer has a business or personal interest.
The Board of Directors reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or donation. We do not accept donations from town-wide elected officials. We will accept donations from precinct-elected Town Meeting members. We post the names of donors on our website and, at least once a year, in our newspaper. Donors and advertisers have no editorial input on our journalism.
We disclose our policies and practices for acceptance of government funding, if any. We may collaborate with the Belmont Media Center, which does receive funds from Verizon and Comcast payments to the town of Belmont. We are editorially independent from the Belmont Media Center. There is no government assessment or involvement in news coverage.