Connect Live News Network (CLNN) believes that journalism is a public responsibility. The freedom to report carries with it an obligation to be accurate, fair, independent and accountable.
Our Code of Ethics establishes the professional standards that guide our journalists, editors, correspondents, contributors and editorial teams in gathering, verifying, producing and publishing news.
These principles are intended to protect the integrity of our journalism and, most importantly, the trust placed in us by our readers.
Truth and Accuracy
Accuracy is the foundation of our journalism.
We make reasonable efforts to verify information before publication and distinguish confirmed facts from allegations, claims, assumptions and opinion. We do not knowingly publish information that is false or materially misleading.
When facts are uncertain or still developing, we make reasonable efforts to communicate that uncertainty rather than presenting incomplete information as established fact.
Speed should never be treated as a justification for sacrificing accuracy.
Independence
Our editorial decisions must remain independent of political parties, governments, businesses, advertisers, sponsors, personal relationships and other external interests.
Journalists and editors should not allow personal beliefs or affiliations to determine the presentation of news.
Commercial relationships must not be allowed to influence legitimate editorial decisions. Advertising and sponsorship are separate from independent news reporting.
Fairness and Impartiality
We strive to treat individuals, organisations and competing viewpoints fairly.
Fairness does not require giving equal weight to every claim. It requires assessing information on its evidence and relevance and avoiding deliberate favouritism.
When reporting a significant dispute, allegation or controversy, we make reasonable efforts to seek the response of the person or organisation concerned.
We do not knowingly suppress relevant information simply because it does not support the preferred narrative of a story.
Distinguishing Fact, Allegation and Opinion
Readers should be able to understand what is known, what is alleged and what is opinion.
An allegation should not be presented as a proven fact. A police complaint is not a conviction, an accusation is not proof and an investigation does not by itself establish guilt.
Where an article contains analysis, commentary or opinion, its nature should be apparent to the reader.
Sources and Verification
We value reliable, identifiable and accountable sources.
Where possible, important information should be confirmed through primary documents, official records, direct interviews, on-record sources or independent corroboration.
Anonymous sources may be used where there is a legitimate public-interest reason for protecting their identity and the source has a credible basis for knowing the information. Anonymity should not be used merely to give authority to rumours or unsupported claims.
Information obtained through social media, messaging applications or other digital platforms should be independently assessed before being treated as reliable news.
Attribution
We give appropriate credit to the sources of information, reporting, photographs, videos, documents and other material used in our journalism.
We do not knowingly present another journalist’s original reporting as our own.
When a significant development has been reported by another news organisation and we rely on that reporting, appropriate attribution should be provided.
Reporting on Courts and Legal Matters
Legal and judicial reporting requires particular accuracy and restraint.
We distinguish between allegations made by parties, arguments presented by advocates, submissions before a court, judicial observations, interim directions and final judgments.
We do not describe a person as guilty merely because an FIR has been registered, an arrest has been made, a charge has been filed or an investigation is continuing.
Where relevant, reports should clearly indicate the procedural stage of a legal matter and avoid language that could improperly prejudge pending proceedings.
Respect for Privacy and Human Dignity
Journalism must respect the dignity and legitimate privacy of individuals.
We avoid publishing private or sensitive information when it has no meaningful connection to the public interest. Additional care is exercised when reporting on children, victims of sexual offences, vulnerable persons, medical conditions, grief, accidents and traumatic events.
The fact that information is available somewhere does not automatically make its publication journalistically justified.
Crime and Sensitive Reporting
Crime stories must be reported without unnecessary sensationalism.
We avoid language, images or presentation designed primarily to provoke fear, hatred or outrage.
Victims and vulnerable individuals should be treated with dignity. Information that could unnecessarily expose a person to further harm should be carefully considered before publication.
The identity of individuals protected by law will not be disclosed in violation of applicable legal requirements.
Conflicts of Interest
Journalists and editorial staff should avoid situations where personal, financial, professional or other interests could compromise their independence.
Where a potential conflict is unavoidable or relevant to a story, appropriate disclosure should be considered.
Journalistic access, hospitality, gifts, benefits or other advantages must not be allowed to influence editorial judgment.
Gifts, Favors and Improper Influence
Editorial personnel should not accept gifts, payments, favours or benefits that could reasonably create an expectation of favourable coverage.
No person, organisation or institution should be able to purchase editorial influence through gifts, hospitality or other benefits.
Corrections and Accountability
We accept responsibility for correcting significant factual errors.
When a material error is identified, we seek to correct it promptly and transparently. Corrections should not be concealed where doing so would prevent readers from understanding that an error occurred.
Updating a story when new and verified information becomes available is a normal part of responsible journalism.
Accountability is not a weakness of journalism. It is essential to maintaining credibility.
Headlines, Images and Presentation
Headlines, photographs, videos, captions, thumbnails and social-media posts are subject to the same standards of accuracy as the underlying article.
We do not knowingly use misleading headlines or visual material merely to generate clicks or engagement.
Images should accurately represent the event or subject described. Illustrative, archival or file images should not be presented in a manner that gives readers a false impression that they depict the specific event being reported.
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Tools
Technology and artificial intelligence may assist our newsroom in research, transcription, translation, organisation, data analysis and other legitimate editorial functions.
However, technological tools do not replace editorial judgment.
AI-assisted material must be appropriately reviewed before publication. We will not knowingly publish fabricated quotations, invented sources, fictional events or synthetic material as genuine news.
Where manipulated or AI-generated visual, audio or other material could reasonably be mistaken for authentic evidence, appropriate disclosure should be considered.
Ultimately, responsibility for published journalism rests with the human editorial team.
Copyright and Original Work
We respect the intellectual property rights of journalists, photographers, videographers, publications and other creators.
Our journalists must not knowingly plagiarise or misrepresent another person’s original work as their own.
Material belonging to third parties should be used lawfully and with appropriate attribution, licensing or permission where required.
Separation of News and Commercial Content
Editorial journalism must remain distinguishable from advertising, sponsored content and other commercial communication.
Advertisers, sponsors and commercial partners do not receive editorial control over independent news coverage.
Where paid, sponsored or promotional material is published, it should be presented in a manner that does not intentionally mislead readers into believing that the material is independent editorial journalism.
Public Interest
The public interest is a central consideration in our editorial decisions.
Public interest is not the same as public curiosity. Information may be interesting without being sufficiently important to justify publication.
Before publishing sensitive information, we consider its relevance, accuracy, potential consequences and legitimate public value.
Protection of Confidential Sources
We recognise that some individuals may provide important information only when their identity is protected.
Where confidentiality has been legitimately promised, we will make reasonable efforts to protect the source’s identity, subject to applicable law and exceptional circumstances involving serious risks to life or public safety.
Confidentiality should never be used as a mechanism for publishing rumours without adequate verification.
Social Media and Digital Conduct
Our journalists are expected to maintain the same professional standards on social media that apply to published journalism.
Personal social-media activity should not compromise the credibility or independence of reporting.
Unverified claims, rumours and material circulating online should not be treated as established facts merely because they are widely shared.
Editorial Responsibility
Every member of the editorial team has a responsibility to uphold these standards.
Editors have a particular responsibility to ensure that significant stories receive appropriate scrutiny before publication, particularly stories involving serious allegations, public figures, vulnerable individuals, communal or social tensions, criminal matters and information capable of causing substantial harm.
Our Commitment to Readers
A news organisation earns credibility one report at a time.
Connect Live News Network is committed to journalism that is accurate without being careless, independent without being partisan, critical without being prejudicial and responsible without being afraid to ask difficult questions.
We will continue to review our editorial practices as journalism, technology and the information environment evolve.
Our objective is straightforward: to serve the public with journalism that readers can trust.
Connect Live News Network