Summary Of BNF Editorial Guidelines And Code
These editorial policies and guidelines are meant to augment BNF’s Conflict of Interest Policy (required by the Internal Revenue Service). They represent a summary of BNF’s editorial policies and guidelines – they are not intended to be comprehensive. The circumstances of reporting can differ greatly from one instance to the next. What might be acceptable in one case, might not be in another, depending on the particulars. For that reason, these editorial guidelines and policies are not necessarily set-in-stone, hard and fast rules addressing all cases.
The overarching mission of BNF is to report the truth, accurately and fairly. The following editorial policies and guidelines are intended to further that mission:
- All BNF reporting must be verified and fact-checked.
- In the rare event of a reporting error, BNF will quickly, clearly, and prominently make corrections, clarifications, updates, and editor’s notes as the specific circumstances dictate, and in extreme cases, may take down the reporting.
- All BNF reporting will endeavor to identify and disclose its sources of information. There will be times when BNF has no alternative other than to grant confidentiality and/or anonymity to sources in order to be able to report vital facts and information to the public. But identifying and disclosing its sources of information is preferred.
- In addition to adhering to BNF’s Conflict of Interest Policy (required by the Internal Revenue Service), all BNF reporters and editors should assiduously avoid not only actual or potential conflicts of interest, but also any appearance of conflicts of interest.
- Consistent with BNF’s tax-exempt status and charitable purpose, BNF’s reporting should not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. BNF makes its personnel aware of this obligation, including by stating it here in BNF’s editorial policies and guidelines. BNF’s editors and reporters are instructed to review their reporting to make sure that it does not violate this obligation.
- When seeking interviews, BNF reporters will accurately identify themselves.
- BNF reporters and editors must not accept payment (directly or indirectly), or gifts, entertainment or reimbursement of expenses of more than nominal value, from any person, company, or organization that they cover.
- BNF labels opinion pieces as such and/or with the following headline format: “Author’s Name: Headline.”