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Code of Conduct

The FactCheckNI Code of Conduct sets out the main principles of the fact checking service that we provide. All FactCheckNI personnel must read and abide by this Code of Conduct.

A fact checker:

    1. Upholds the principle of the freedom of the press, the freedom of expression, and the right to inform the public
    2. Ensures that information is accurate, with only publicly available sources (unless explained by the Editor)
    3. Publishes source links thoroughly and wherever possible
    4. Corrects any inaccuracies with transparency and in accordance to organisational policy
    5. Provides evidence to validate or refute a specific claim, without conjecture or opinion
    6. Uses his/her true identity in all dealings inside and outside the organisation when working on assignments, but under organisational policy no bylines or other means of identifying authorship will be made; a public biography will be published on the organisation’s website but not linked to an individual’s articles
    7. Republishes links to published FactCheckNI articles and other organisational news, but without attributing individual authorship
    8. Obtains source information by honest, straightforward, and open means, without exception
    9. Checks sources and appreciates that others’ material may not have been produced to exacting standards of accuracy
    10. Obtains permission from copyright holders for all relevant content, whether pictures, text, or other media
    11. Rejects any inducement to suppress or filter information of material significance in researching a claim
    12. Declares to the Editor any real or potential conflict of interest, before or in the course of undertaking any assignment
    13. Informs the Editor of outside engagement and duties of possible concern, e.g. giving evidence in court, participating at public seminars or the like (whether as chair, speaker, or panellist), employment that could conflict with writing/research duties, membership or public association of a political party or social cause/movement, familial or other close personal or financial relationship in the scope of any assignment; none may disqualify, but non-disclosure is not defensible

END OF POLICY

Last updated: 21 March 2017