(Last updated 7/29/23)

For more than a century the New York Amsterdam News has worked to redress the historical imbalance of the mainstream media by reporting on the events that impact Black and brown communities in New York, the United States and around the globe and has been a fierce champion of racial justice and promoter of equity. Following in the tradition of great journalists like Ida B. Wells who said, “The way to right wrongs is to shine the light of truth upon them.”

Central to our principals are the concepts of fairness and accuracy. This is not the same as “objectivity.” Our commitment to journalism and informing our readership requires that we be fair; our loyalties to journalism and our community requires that we be accurate as well.

As Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel commanded: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

In this vein, we must always be prepared to call injustice by its name because that is accurate. We must also always strive to provide context to help our readers understand the complex world in which they live.

As journalists, we rely and depend upon facts for our reporting. While we understand that there is a diversity of opinion about how to interpret facts, we believe that facts themselves should be the bedrock of our work.

We strive above all to be accurate in our reporting, not to be first. All members of our editorial team from top to bottom are expected to exercise superior news judgment in their work and in how they carry themselves publicly as representatives of our news organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Our editorial team, from top to bottom, is responsible for upholding our standards in their own work and the work of their colleagues.

Among the most important of these practices:

1. Accuracy: Our reporters and editors must not knowingly or repeatedly share misinformation or disinformation within the organization or outside of it. It is the responsibility of our staff members to vet the veracity and accuracy of information they share within our organization and publicly as identified representatives of the AmNews. Repeatedly sharing misinformation or disinformation is grounds for dismissal.

2. Original reporting: Plagiarism and/or including uncited material in any of our articles is unacceptable and grounds for immediate dismissal. All work submitted by reporters, freelancers, interns and contributors should be original (See AI below for exceptions).

3. Artificial intelligence: AI or other automated tools may be used in research in consultation with an editor but special care must be taken to ensure the information provided is accurate. An exception to this policy is AI generated art and images but these must be clearly labeled as such and approved by an editor.

4. Vetting for accuracy: When quoting and interviewing sources our team must show sensitivity. At the same time we must vet the accuracy of statements our sources make and of what we chose to quote and cite. Whenever possible, we must seek confirmation from authoritative sources. For example: if a source says “NYC Public Schools have the lowest graduation rate of the ten largest cities in America” our reporters and editors should verify that information with independent, high quality sources. If a source says something inaccurate or inflammatory we MUST include context. For example: “Left handed people are less intelligent,” Mr. Jones claimed falsely and without providing evidence.

5. Attribution: We must always attribute the information we cite or quote. “Opponents feel” or “sources claim” are not acceptable forms of attribution. If we can’t find someone who is willing to say it for attribution, then we should not include it.

6. Quotations: We must quote our sources accurately. Using ellipsis or trimming words such as “um and like” are acceptable so long as they DO NOT reasonably change the meaning of the quoted statement. Major revisions for clarification should be made in consultation with an editor and must be verified with the original source whenever possible.

7. Protecting sources: We should only grant sources anonymity in extreme cases when being identified publicly could cause harm to the source and/or if the information they are providing is of paramount public interest. Even so, extra care must be taken to confirm any information provided by an anonymous source. If the information they provide cannot be independently confirmed we should not publish that information.

8. Fairness: At all times be fair when dealing with controversial topics. Give those being criticized an opportunity to respond. Always provide context.

9. Facts: When the weight of fact is clear, it is acceptable to make a judgment on a controversial topic. For example stating: “The weight of scientific opinion indicates that man made climate change is real” is both fair and accurate. Unacceptable: “Everyone knows that the Mayor is a crook with bad style.” Informed judgment and context is important to our reporting. Our personal opinions and likes and dislikes should NOT be part of our news reporting but is acceptable in our arts reviews and opinion based commentary.

10. Recorded interviews: Whenever possible our journalists must digitally record and save their interviews to a central location to ensure accuracy. Direct quotations should be made from recordings and reviewed by our journalists and/or editors to ensure accuracy.

11. Opinion: Our opinion based reporting must still adhere to high standards. Our opinion section is NOT a place for anyone to say whatever they feel or believe. Opinion articles should be fact based and address contrary beliefs or perspectives in a meaningful way. Opinion articles are not a place for the spread of hate or disinformation.

12. Corrections: We must own our mistakes quickly and publically. It is part of our duty to inform our readers of our errors AND our reporters and editors must work to ensure that systems are in place to avoid such errors on a regular basis. Minor corrections should be appended to the original article; major corrections should appear at the top of the article and read Editor’s Note.

13. Disclosure: Reporters and editors should immediately make their supervisors aware of anything that could be reasonably construed as a possible conflict of interest. When appropriate, such potential conflicts should be declared in an article. For example: [Full disclosure: Professor X taught at NYU while this reporter was a student in his department but was never taught by the Professor].

14. Editorial independence: Members of the editorial team must never accept payment or anything of significant value in any form to promote any cause, person, subject or project. Doing so is grounds for immediate dismissal. Exceptions may include press tickets to performances or travel to cover an event and must be discussed in advance with your supervisor(s). Such instances MUST be disclosed in our coverage and must not sway our independent journalism.

15. Members of the editorial team must be politically independent (This does not mean not belonging to a political party) in their coverage. They may vote and register as part of political parties for voting purposes but may not actively engage in promoting any candidate or party, especially those they regularly cover. Editorial team members should refrain from signing ballot petitions for candidates or parties or donating to political candidates, campaigns or parties, especially if they cover them.

16. Transparency: Editorial team members should always represent themselves as journalists and never deceive subjects to get a story, quotation or information.

17. Political Endorsements: The publisher and the editorial board of the Amsterdam News carefully assesses political candidates in election years and makes endorsements based on qualities of public servants who will best serve our communities.