Proposed AP Ethics Policy Draws Some Guild Concerns

By: Joe Strupp A proposed new ethics policy for The Associated Press, which would be the news organization's most extensive to date, is drawing some concern from union leaders, who say its limits on financial investments, conflict of interest, and freelance work may be too restrictive.

The 11-page draft proposal, obtained by E&P, includes a number of basic journalistic tenets such as requirements that datelines be used only when a reporter is at the datelined location. But it extends to some areas that have been the subject of recent news industry concern, such as anonymous sources, conflict of interest, and corrections. The text of the proposal is available on the News Media Guild's Web site.

"Much of it has been in print in lots of different places," said Kathleen Carroll, AP executive editor, who distributed copies of the proposal to staffers last week. "We wanted to pull it all together. We felt we needed to make sure it was up to speed."

The policy has not taken effect and will not until management receives enough input from employees, managers, and union leaders, Carroll said.

One of the lengthiest parts of the new guidelines relates to anonymous sources, stating they can only be used if the material is informational, not opinion or speculation; with approval of a news manager; and if the manager knows the source's identity.

The policy also would require that such sources be identified as specifically as possible, not simply as "a source," and may not be cited elsewhere in the story as someone who declined comment. All anonymously sourced stories must also carry a byline, according to the policy.

The new ethics code also defines "on the record" as information used with no restrictions and quoting the source by name; "off the record" as information not used for publication; and "background" as information that can be published with specific conditions set by both parties.

Other notable elements of the policy include a requirement that all corrections be labeled corrections, not clarifications or changes. "When we're wrong, we must say so as soon as possible," the policy states. "We point out the error and fix it."

In addition, the policy restates AP's long-held position that sexual-assault victims and pre-teen children accused of crimes or who are witnesses not be identified, "except in unusual circumstances."

Tony Winton, president of News Media Guild Local 31222, which represents AP newsroom rank and file, supported the effort to specify ethics policy guidelines. But, he said, some union members had concerns about several areas of the proposal, such as one area that states, "editors and writers who regularly cover the financial markets may not own stock in any company."

"Think about it: It could be in an area you do not cover," Winton said. "That is an issue we need to talk to the company about." Winton also cited other areas that relate to conflict of interest, including some that restrict what employee's spouses can do with financial investments and political activities.

"It has to do with what a conflict of interest is," Winton said. "That raises some serious concerns."

Winton also pointed to a tighter restriction on freelance work, which he says the current Guild contract allows as long as there is no conflict with a writer's AP assignments. The new policy seeks approval for any freelance work, even if it is not a conflict, he said. "We share the goal of an ethics policy that secures quality journalism," Winton said. "But we also need to protect the rights and benefits of our membership."

Carroll declined to comment specifically on Winton's concerns, saying all such critiques are being reviewed before any part of the policy takes effect. "We circulated this to invite the kind of discussion that can be productive," Carroll said. "It puts more specificity to things that have been part of the AP for decades."