Abode2 Ethics Policy
Abode2 strives to be balanced and fair in its reporting, accurate and honest in its coverage. We aim to be respectful and determined, to value the opinions of our sources, while ensuring that misleading or incorrect reporting does not go undocumented.
Both the publisher of Abode2 and its contributors represent the magazine in their actions and work and are responsible for making ethical decisions.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a major offense in journalism. Abode2 hold their writers to the same standard to never plagiarise work or the work of others. This includes not only the written aspects of journalism, but also quotes, original ideas and researched information.
Conflicts of Interest
Content must be unbiased and objective. Journalists submitting a pitch should be aware of their own biases and potential conflicts of interest.
When pitching a feature to Abode2, the journalist/writer must outline all potential and actual conflicts of interest they may have with the story. It is unethical to write an article about an organisation or project with which they are directly involved. If Abode2 discover that a conflict of interest was not disclosed and the article has already been published, the article will be removed from the website and a retraction notice published outlining why the article was removed.
Gifts in Kind
Contributors and employees of Abode2 are not allowed to accept gifts in kind from sources or organisations. Accepting can be viewed by readers as a conflict of interest.
Gifts in kind include material gifts, as well as services and samples. If an unsolicited gift is received, this should be returned. If the gift cannot be returned, a footer to the article should advise readers to that effect.
Samples, such a book or cd, are acceptable if they are being reviewed for the publication. Event access is also acceptable – on the basis gaining admission to a concert or event enables the story to be fully covered.
Sources
Abode2 treat all sources with respect. They are not simply there to feed information for the story; they have a right to be treated with dignity and compassion.
All material for published content should be kept for at least six months. This includes, but isn’t limited to: recordings, transcripts, notes, source contact information and story drafts.
Interviews
Interview should be guided by interviewee questions and the angle of the story. In person interviews are preferred whenever possible, although phone interviews are permitted when necessary.
An interview subject or source should not see a story before it is published. A source does not have the power to review, change or kill quotations or the story.
Standards
Abode2 employees will be held to the same ethical standards as its contributors. Employees will not promote their own interests or portray their own beliefs. Potential conflicts of interest will be disclosed to management. Opinion articles and/or letters to the editors will not be rejected simply because they do not coincide with the beliefs of the editor or publisher.
Abode2 will not force a writer or member of staff to cover a story if the writer feels uncomfortable. The pursuit of a story will never be more important than the wellbeing of the journalist/writer in question.
Abode2 will review all articles for libel, slander and other ethical issues. However, it is the responsibility of all editorially-based staff and contributors to be fully aware of ethical issues arising in stories.
Abode2’s social media accounts will be subject to the same ethical standards and considerations that are held to Abode2’s other publishing activities.
Abode2 takes responsibility for the actions of their journalists as represented in their work for the magazine. If a correction, retraction, or public apology is required, the publication will publish it through the appropriate channels. A correction, retraction, or public apology should be noted in the same prominence that the original mistake occurred.
