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Guidelines for Avoiding Conflict of Interest
Radio-Television News Directors Association
5. Will you accept free travel from sources. Most journalists will accept a ride in a pickup truck to the local farmer's pumpkin patch, but will they also accept a free ride on an airline showing off a new route. Journalists and managers should consider whether they will accept free transportation and in what form. Will the station insist on buying tickets to those forms of transportation that require passengers to do the same? How will you divulge to your audience that you have taken [sic] the free transportation?
6. Will newsroom personnel be allowed to "moonlight" with interests that may be the subject of news coverage? Can on-air personalities do commercial appearances or voice over work Many stations have arrangements that allow newsroom personnel to work elsewhere. But managers should ask what sort of conflicts of interest might be perceived from such relationships. For instance, can a sportscaster also broadcast games for a local team on its payroll. Many journalists see it as their duty to take part in public service work. Does that work present any conflicts of interest? RTNDA guidelines for on-air charitable solicitations may be of some help.
7. Does the subject matter of a story benefit the reporter, the manager, or the station? Would members of the audience perceive a story is done for the monetary benefit of the station or any of its employees? If so, is there another source or approach for the story that would eliminate that potential conflict of interest?
8. Does the station have a policy on if and how employees can participate in political campaigns? Are journalists and their managers treated differently in the policy than other station employees? Journalists face the constant scrutiny of those looking for political bias in their coverage. Voting is a private act, but public participation in political events, campaign contributions, or personal messages of support on private time have no place in the life of most journalists. Stations should develop a very specific list of what political activity is never acceptable for their journalists and other employees.
6. Will newsroom personnel be allowed to "moonlight" with interests that may be the subject of news coverage? Can on-air personalities do commercial appearances or voice over work Many stations have arrangements that allow newsroom personnel to work elsewhere. But managers should ask what sort of conflicts of interest might be perceived from such relationships. For instance, can a sportscaster also broadcast games for a local team on its payroll. Many journalists see it as their duty to take part in public service work. Does that work present any conflicts of interest? RTNDA guidelines for on-air charitable solicitations may be of some help.
7. Does the subject matter of a story benefit the reporter, the manager, or the station? Would members of the audience perceive a story is done for the monetary benefit of the station or any of its employees? If so, is there another source or approach for the story that would eliminate that potential conflict of interest?
8. Does the station have a policy on if and how employees can participate in political campaigns? Are journalists and their managers treated differently in the policy than other station employees? Journalists face the constant scrutiny of those looking for political bias in their coverage. Voting is a private act, but public participation in political events, campaign contributions, or personal messages of support on private time have no place in the life of most journalists. Stations should develop a very specific list of what political activity is never acceptable for their journalists and other employees.
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