These are two examples of editorial policy statements
from the
Cedar Rapids Gazette.
1. Photo Content Policy
The content of all photographs published in newspaper, posted online
or used in Gazette news publications and news services must adhere to
Gazette standards of sensitivity, taste and appropriateness. We must
be sensitive to photographs that would knowingly or wittingly insult
our readers by showing disrespect to gender, race, and physical characteristics,
mental ability, etc. We must avoid offending readers with tasteless
photography that no reasonable person would find newsworthy. We must
make sure that the images we select for news publication complement
The Gazette's core values as a family newspaper.
Use of feature photographs depicting unsafe and dangerous activities
as leisure activities (walking on railroad tracks, playing on the roofs
of buildings, playing in grain piles, playing with fire, etc.,) is discouraged.
There may be rare, compelling reasons to use such a photograph, but
only after thorough consideration and approval by the photo editor,
the appropriate desk editor (features, financial, metro, sports, etc.)
and the senior news department editor present.
Photographs of questionable content and photographs that depict sensitive
topics, such as criminal activity, punishment, alternative lifestyles,
nudity or partial nudity, injuries or death, bloody accident scenes,
animal cruelty, medical-related procedures, body parts, etc., will be
used when, in the judgment of the senior news department editor present,
the images meet Gazette standards for sensitivity, taste and appropriateness.
These photographs must be cropped and positioned on a page in such a
way that they will be presented within the context of the story. We
must be extremely careful not to be sensationalistic by aggressive presentation
of the news.
The Gazette's executive editor is ultimately responsible for the news
content of the newspaper. Do not publish any photograph that would be
reluctantly used -- even after thoughtful consideration and application
of content guidelines -- unless it has the approval of the executive
editor.
2. The Gazette's safeguards for accuracy, fairness, objectivity
and originality of content are inherent in the newsgathering process
engaged by the newspaper. Employees (and those persons under contract)
who collect or prepare information for publication must follow reasonable
reporting and editing practices and procedures to verify information
for accuracy and originality.
The Gazette will respond to complaints about the accuracy, fairness
and completeness of news reports and headlines in the newspaper. When
a report is found to be wrong or misleading, a correction or clarification
will be published.
