Southwest News Today (SWN) is committed to the highest standards of journalistic ethics.
Pursuit of Truth:
Journalism is, above all, the pursuit of truth and requires a balance of fairness and accuracy. We look to truth and fairness to guide us each step of the way.
Fairness: We strive for fairness in our reporting. This includes but is not limited to attempting to contact those we are writing about, presenting what facts we possess, and following or updating past articles as new information becomes available.
Integrity and Trust: Holding others accountable is a large part of our vocation, and we hold ourselves to the highest level of integrity, and holding ourselves accountable.
We will not take advantage of our sources or those who provide leads, and we will not divulge our sources’ identities. Additionally, we will protect all whistleblowers.
Transparency: We will be transparent with our intentions and never deceive or mislead our sources or readers. We must be transparent in our reporting process and be willing to explain to the public how and why a story came to be.
When an article is the product of a source that wishes to remain anonymous or a whistleblower, we will indicate such at the head of the article.
When working with sources, we will attempt to verify the information provided by at least two other sources.
Compassion: We strive to minimize harm and understand the impact our reporting might have on specific individuals or groups. This includes respecting the right to a fair trial and an assumption of innocence.
Independence: We operate independently and away from all outside influences. We will do our best to avoid conflicts of interest and disclose them should they occur.
We do not accept compensation or gifts in exchange for coverage. As an organization, we will not donate to political candidates or endorse them.
Personal Bias: Journalists must use self-reflection and introspection to avoid individual biases. While we may not always know our personal biases, we will examine our blind spots and educate ourselves so that we may grow as people and journalists.
Society of Professional Journalists: Our journalists are members of the Society of Professional Journalists, and we have adopted their Code of Ethics, which can be downloaded by clicking here.