Code of Conduct for Filterers and Editors
UMMnews is a not-for-profit organization. At UMMnews we are united by a simple, common purpose; to provide its users the real news – not news ‘stories’ that are aimed at creating perceptions which suites the paymasters of the mainstream media, to provide objective articles written from the neutral point of view, to provide quality opinions written by nonpartisan authors, and to provide videos not designed for propaganda or commercial benefits.
It is essential for success of UMMnews that we provide the truth, and that our readers believe us to be conveying the truth. If we are not giving them the truth - then UMMnews cannot succeed.
To maintain this purpose; following Code of Conduct applies to UMMnews’s Filterer’s and Editors.
Filterer’s should check that the submitted item;
1. Is not a propaganda, spinning, advertising, branding or other promotional content, or has hyperlinks in the content to that affect.
2. Is not a fraudulent, unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, libellous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, offensive, pornographic, profane, sexually explicit or indecent item.
3. Does not encourage conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law.
4. Does not appear to violate or infringes the rights of third parties including copyright, trademark, trade secret, confidentiality, contract, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary right.
If a submitted item has any of the above mentioned element/issues; Filterer should Reject the item. If not; then Filterer should pass it on to the Editor.
Editors should check that;
The contents published on UMMnews are not plagiarised, and any copied material are duly quoted and referenced.
The content does not appear to contain false or misleading indications of origin, endorsement or statements of fact.
The content does not include any personal information about the Reporter/Writer and others, and in particular, does not disclose sensitive, embarrassing, proprietary or confidential information.
All the news items and articles are objective and based on accurate information.
The articles conform to the policy of Neutral point of view, and provide information that contains no bias. This includes removing and/or editing the contents that have been determined to advocate a particular point of view to the exclusion of others.
The sources and quotes from all relevant sides of an argument are included in a news item or article, to avoid being biased.
If an article appear to contain bias, and/or a particular point of view; it can be published as opinion in the ‘Opinion’ section of UMMnews. However, Editor should get an agreement from the writer, that his/her article can be published, as an opinion, in the ‘Opinion’ section. If the writer disagrees to change the content, as advised by the Editor, and disagree to get it published in the ‘Opinion’ section, then it should be Rejected, and the writer informed accordingly.
The opinions expressed in a news item or article is a direct quote. UMMnews has no official opinion on anything; however, sources often do. But, a report or article should not be based solely on opinions, speculation, hunches or wild guesses.
Any direct and indirect propaganda item is identified, and either rejected or thoroughly ‘cleansed’, to eliminate propaganda messages. This should include eliminating the propaganda statements of the government officials, their agencies and their paid ‘resources’. If these statements are included, then it should be balanced with the opposing views/information. And, while creating these balances; weaker party’s information/views should come prior to the stronger party’s information/views.
Find the identity of unnamed sources mentioned in the news item/article to assess the appropriateness of using their information. You should shield a source with anonymity only when they insist upon it and when they provide vital information - not opinion or speculation, and when there is no other way to obtain that information, and when you know the source is knowledgeable and reliable.
All risks of the content being inflammatory, misleading, or inconsiderate to subjects and sources are minimised. This is especially relevant to those engaging in original reporting.
Any facts of major importance or significance are not omitted.
The items containing any of the elements/issues, listed under Filterer’s checklist above, if forwarded to the Editor, should be Rejected.
