1. STAR radio is an independent radio station for Liberia and the Sub-Region.
2. STAR radio Inc. is a Liberian entity with a board of Liberians.
3. STAR radio has partnership with Hirondelle Foundation, Media for Peace and Human Dignity.
4. STAR radio
I. Broadcasts impartial and credible information on the situation in the country and the region.
II. Broadcasts on FM and short-wave and disseminates information through its Internet service.
III. Promotes professional journalism by training young journalists.
IV. Promotes the freedom of speech.
V. Its journalism is well-sourced and based on sound evidence, relying on fact rather than opinion, giving the audience the opportunity to decide
for themselves on the issues of the day.
VI. Does not discriminate about age, sex, ethnicity, religion or the lack of it or nationality.
VII. Broadcasts news and programmes on issues that are relevant to the daily lives of the Liberia citizens and in support of peace, activities of the civil society, development and humanitarian activities, capacity building, human rights and child protection, civic education and electoral assistance.
VIII. Takes account on the traditional culture of Liberia in its programmes as well as reflecting contemporary trends.
IX. Values audience feedback on its programs. Complaints are addressed properly and apologies made when necessary.
X. Observes strict political impartiality and seeks to remain independent in its broadcasts and the choice of its collaborators.
XI. No one, public or private, may impose the broadcasting of information, opinions or works on STAR radio.
XII. The station manager is responsible to the board for the broadcast contents.
XIII. Does not broadcast material likely to arouse panic.
XIV. The Radio's main languages are English and Liberian English. It also uses vernacular languages.
XV. The STAR radio Charter respects the relevant Liberians laws, the international laws on Medias and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The STAR radio Board
November 2005, Monrovia, Liberia
STAR radio Code of Ethical Conduct
18 May 2005
Section 1
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Introduction and Purpose
1. The purpose of this code is to protect the impartiality and neutrality of STAR radio and the integrity of its reporting. Our audience must be confident that the outside activities of our staff do not undermine STAR radio's impartiality and that editorial decisions are not influenced by any commercial or personal interests. In many cases, common sense will point to the ethical course. Simply asking oneself whether a course of action might damage STAR's reputation is often enough to gauge whether the action is appropriate.
2. This code of ethics applies to all members of the editorial staff whose work directly affects the content and operation of STAR radio, including those on leave of absence.
3. News clerks, administrative assistants, secretaries and other support staff are generally not bound by these strictures, with two important exceptions:
a. No employee may exploit for personal gain any non public information acquired at work, or use his/her association with STAR radio to gain favor or advantage.
b. No one may do anything that damages STAR radio's reputation for strict neutrality in reporting on politics and government; in particular, no one may wear campaign buttons or display any other form of political partisanship while on the job.
Section 2
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Our Duty to the Public
1. STAR radio treats its public as fairly and openly as possible. On air and online, we tell our audience the truth as best we can learn it. Our journalism is well-sourced and based on sound evidence, relying on fact rather than opinion. It is our policy to correct our errors, large and small, as soon as we become aware of them. ^
2. STAR radio serves the public interest by reporting stories of significance and by making them interesting and relevant. Our news and current affairs stories do not campaign, but pursue journalistically valid issues and stories, without giving undue prominence to any one agenda. STAR radio provides a forum for public debate.
3. We report the facts first and explain their context. We give our audiences the opportunity to decide for themselves on the issues of the day.
4. Our first loyalty is to our audience, to whom we are accountable. We deal fairly and openly with our audience. Civility applies whether an exchange takes place in person, by telephone, by letter or online. Simple courtesy suggests that we do not alienate our audience by ignoring letters and emails that warrant reply.
Section 3
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Protecting STAR radio's Neutrality
1. Relationships with sources require sound judgment and self-discipline to prevent the appearance of partiality. Cultivating sources is a skill, often practiced most effectively in informal settings outside of normal business hours. Yet staff members must be sensitive that personal relationships with news sources can erode into favoritism, in fact or appearance. Staff members must be aware that sources are eager to win our good will for reasons of their own. Even though this topic defies hard and fast rules, we must preserve a professional detachment, free of bias.
2. Clearly, romantic involvement with a news source would foster an appearance of partiality. Therefore, staff members who develop close relationships with people who might figure in coverage they provide, edit, and package or supervise must disclose those relationships to the News and Program Editors. In some instances, staff members may have to recuse themselves from certain coverage.
3. Staff members may not accept gifts, tickets, discounts, reimbursements or other inducements from any individuals or organization covered by STAR radio or likely to be covered in the future. Gifts should be returned with a polite letter of explanation. Exceptions may be made for trinkets of nominal value, such as a mug or cap with a company logo.
4. Staff members may not accept anything that could be construed as payment for favorable coverage or as an inducement to alter or forgo unfavorable coverage.
5. The spouses, families and close personal relations of STAR radio's staff members should not accept any personal benefits or gifts outside the normal scope of business hospitality.
6. STAR radio acknowledges that outside appearances can enhance the reputation of its bylines and serve STAR radio's interests. Nevertheless, no staff member may appear before an outside group if the appearance could reasonably create an actual or apparent conflict of interest or undermine public trust in the paper's impartiality.
7. Staff members should be especially sensitive to the appearance of partiality when they address groups that might figure in coverage they provide, edit, package or supervise, especially if the setting might suggest a close relationship to the sponsoring group.
8. Staff members should check with the Program or News Editor if offered speaking fees, honorariums, expense reimbursement and free transportation.
9. Staff members may not enter competitions sponsored by individuals or groups who have a direct interest in the tone of STAR radio's coverage. They may not act as judges for these competitions or accept their awards.
10. Staff members who borrow equipment, vehicles or other goods for evaluation or review must return the borrowed items as soon as possible.
11. Staff members may keep for their own collections - but may not sell or copy - books, recordings, tapes, compact discs and computer programs sent to them for review.
12. Staffs members may not collaborate in ventures involving individuals or organizations that figure in coverage they provide, edit, package or supervise or that are likely to figure in such coverage in the future. Among other things, this prohibition applies to collaborating in writing books, pamphlets, reports, scripts, scores or any other material and in making photographs or creating artwork of any sort.
Section 4
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Participation in Public Life
1. Journalists have no place on the playing fields of politics. Staff members are entitled to vote, but they must not do anything that might raise questions about their professional neutrality or that of STAR radio. If staff members publicly express personal views off-air on controversial issues, then their on-air role may be severely compromised.
2. In particular, staff members may not campaign for, demonstrate for, or endorse candidates, ballot causes or efforts to enact legislation. They may not wear campaign buttons or themselves display any other insignia of partisan politics.
3. Staff members may not themselves give money to, or raise money for, any political candidate or election cause.
4. No staff member may seek public office anywhere. Seeking or serving in public office plainly violates the professional detachment expected of a journalist. It poses a risk of having the staff member's political views imputed to STAR radio, and it can sow a suspicion of favoritism in STAR radio's political coverage when one of its staff members is an active participant.
5. Staff members may not march or rally in support of public causes or movements, sign advertisements taking a position on public issues, or lend their name to campaigns, benefit dinners or similar events if doing so might reasonably raise doubts about their ability or STAR radio's ability to function as neutral observers in covering the news.
6. Staff members may appear from time to time on radio and television programs devoted to public affairs, but they should avoid expressing views that go beyond what they would be allowed to say in STAR radio programming. Staff members should not express support for any political party, express views for or against any policy that is a matter of current political debate, advocate any particular position on an issue of current public controversy or exhort a change in a high profile public policy.
7. Staff members must be sensitive that perfectly proper political activity by their spouses, family or companions may nevertheless create conflicts of interest of the appearance of conflict. When such a possibility arises, the staff member should advise the News or Program Editor.
8. Any staff member with doubts about a proposed political activity should consult the News or Program Editor for guidance.
9. Staff members may not serve on government boards or commissions, paid or unpaid. They may not join boards of trustees, advisory committees or similar groups except those serving journalistic organizations or otherwise promoting journalism education. This restriction will not normally apply to organizations that are highly unlikely to generate news of interest to STAR radio and that do not generally seek to shape public policy.
10. Staff members may not solicit funds for political, social, religious, educational, philanthropic or other causes that reach beyond the sorts of groups described in the preceding paragraph. Doing so could create an expectation of a favor in return. Staff members should think carefully about their own contributions to various causes, bearing in mind the need for neutrality on divisive issues.
Section 5
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Advertisers, Marketing, Promotion
News and advertising are strictly separate. Those who deal with either one have distinct obligations and interests, and neither group should try to influence the other.
Section 6
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Obligations to STAR radio
1. Staff members may not use STAR radio identification cards for purposes not connected with STAR radio employment. Cards may not be used to obtain special treatment or advantage from governmental, commercial or other organizations.
2. STAR radio gathers information for the benefit of its audience. Staff members may not use their STAR radio position to make inquiries for any other purpose.
3. Staff members may not use STAR radio stationery, business cards, forms or other materials for any purpose except the business of STAR radio.
4. Staff members must not disclose confidential information about the operations, policies or plans of STAR radio.
Section 7
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Copyright
1. STAR radio owns outright all material written for broadcast on STAR radio or for publication on the website. No such material may be reproduced or rebroadcast elsewhere without the prior written permission of STAR radio, nor may it be rewritten or otherwise altered and then reproduced or rebroadcast with STAR radio's prior written permission.
2. At no time may a staff member turn over notes, interviews, documents or other working materials to any third party, including agents, producers or studios, or share those materials with them unless legally compelled to do so.
Section 8
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Journalistic work outside STAR radio
1. Staff members are generally entitled to accept freelance assignments that do not directly compete with STAR radio's own offerings. Normally, work for competitors will not be permitted.
2. Staff members must ensure that their freelance work does not interfere with their responsibilities to STAR radio and that it is consistent with the principles contained in the Code of Ethical Conduct and the Production Guidelines.
3. STAR radio staff members should not speak or write publicly about STAR without specific prior approval from the News or Program Editor. They should also clear any references to the broadcasting industry. In addition to concerns about bringing STAR radio into disrepute, it should be borne in mind that STAR radio cannot be seen to endorse outside organizations and it is essential that no promotional use is made of STAR radio's name or brand.
4. Freelance work might create a conflict of interest if it is pursued with such regularity that it compromises the integrity or independence of STAR radio. Staff members may not write a regular newspaper or magazine column.
Section 9
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Appearing on Broadcast Media
1. Staff members may participate in radio, television or Internet interviews or discussions, paid or unpaid, that deal with material they have written or subjects that figure in the coverage they provide, edit, package or supervise. Such occasional appearances must not imply that they carry the sponsorship or endorsement of STAR radio.
2. In deciding whether to make a radio, television or Internet appearance, a staff member should consider its probable tone and content to make sure they are consistent with STAR radio's standards. Generally, a staff member should not say anything on radio, television or the Internet that he/she would not say or write for STAR radio.
3. Appearances might create a conflict of interest if they occur so regularly that they compromise the integrity or independence of STAR radio.
Section 10
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Sorting Out Family Ties
1. Staff members may not write about, edit material or make news judgments about people to whom they are related by blood or marriage or with whom they have close personal relationships. For like reasons, staff members should not recruit or directly supervise family members or close friends.^
2. Any staff member who sees a potential for conflict or a threat to STAR radio's reputation in the activities of spouse, friends of relatives must discuss the situation with the News or Program Editor.
Section 11
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Investments and Financial Ties
1. Staff members must be constantly vigilant against any appearance that he or she is abusing non-public information for financial gain.
2. No staff member may own stock or have any other financial interest in a company, enterprise or industry the coverage of which he or she regularly provides, edits, packages or supervises or is likely to provide, edit, package or supervise.
3. Staff members will be asked when hired to affirm that neither they, nor their spouse, family or companions have any investments or financial holdings that might reasonably raise doubts about the impartiality of the staff member's reporting or editing in his or her proposed assignment.
4. The onus is on staff members to let STAR radio know if they have any interests that could be perceived as a conflict of interest.
Section 12
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Rules for Specialized Positions
1. No staff member who is covering sports may gamble on any sports event or accept tickets, travel expenses, meals, gifts or any other benefit from teams or promoters.
2. Staff members reviewing or otherwise reporting on theatre, music, art, dance, publishing, fashion and the restaurant industry may not offer suggestions or ideas to people who figure in coverage they provide, edit, package or supervise. They may not serve on advisory boards, awards juries, study committees or other panels organized by the people they cover. They may not accept awards from such people. And they may not request extra copies of books, tapes or other materials that are routinely submitted for review.
3. No staff member who covers travel, whether on assignment or not, may accept free or discounted services of any sort from any element of the travel industry. This includes hotels, resorts, restaurants, tour operators, airlines, railways, cruise lines, rental car companies and tourist attractions. No staff member reviewing travel may write about any travel service or product offered by a family member or close friend.
Section 13
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Dealing with Outside Contributors
1. Freelance contributors to STAR radio, while not employees, will be held to the same standards as staff members when they are on STAR radio assignments. If they violate this code, they will be denied further assignments.
Before being given an assignment, freelance contributors must sign a contract with STAR radio. These contracts oblige them to take care to avoid conflicts of interests or the appearance of such conflicts. Specifically, freelancers will not accept free transportation, free lodging, gifts, junkets, commissions or assignments from current or potential news sources.
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