The DePaulia Code of Ethics

The primary function of The DePaulia is to inform the DePaul University community about important, timely and relevant news and views through a student-produced bi-weekly newspaper, website and email newsletter, thereby reflecting and encouraging a free flow of information within the university community and among its various internal and external constituencies. The DePaulia staff is committed to providing the paper’s readers with information they need to know, while trusting the readership to reach its own conclusions on the basis of that information.

Responsibility

The editorial staff of The DePaulia is granted the authority to publish by the College of Communication but is independent from the university. Everything that is of interest to DePaul students merits scrutiny in the pages of The DePaulia. It is the goal and responsibility of The DePaulia to cover all pertinent stories with such thoroughness that no member of the university community can accurately claim that their voice has not been given ae place, when appropriate, in our coverage.

Commitment to Truth

The breadth and depth of The DePaulia’s coverage will be characterized by balance and fairness. Whenever possible, competing voices and opinions will be earnestly sought and faithfully represented. Commentaries will be placed in proper context so that their meanings and purpose are understood. The DePaulia’s fundamental commitment to truth means its staff must report without fear or favor.

Content

The DePaulia’s fundamental commitment to the free flow of information also requires social responsibility. It is neither necessary nor appropriate that every opinion appear in the newspaper. This stands true for every section of the newspaper, from news to the opinions pages. The editorial staff of The DePaulia reserves the right to refuse publication of information and opinion that its editors feel does not serve the public interest. This decision holds as an important value the public’s right to know but recognizes that the newspaper is under no obligation to print material that carelessly or intentionally holds an individual or group to ridicule or scorn, that is profane and indecent or that encourages unlawful behavior.

Publication

The right to publish is a fundamental right because it implies the right to read, the right to consider different opinions and the right to exercise one’s obligation as a thinking member of the DePaul community. This, therefore, makes The DePaulia a vital representative of the university’s student population, in all its complexity and diversity. The censoring of The DePaulia, therefore, through prior censorship of the willful destruction of the newspaper post-publication, is a fundamental violation of a public trust that ought not be tolerated by any member of the university community under any circumstances.

Obscenity

The DePaulia will not publish obscene material. This includes material that – applying the contemporary standards and taken as a whole – appears to be a prurient interest in sex or material that depicts in a patently offensive manner sexual conduct. It also includes material that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, social or scientific value.

Independence

In its editorial operation, The DePaulia asserts its independence from all obligations except that of faithfulness to its social responsibility and the public interest. It promotes no private interest over the general welfare of its readers. It will never knowingly depart from honest journalism, thus holding no value higher than the search for the truth.

Accountability & Correction

The DePaulia will at all times show respect for the dignity, privacy laws and well-being of people encountered in the gathering and presenting of news. The newspaper will not communicate unofficial charges affecting reputation or moral character without giving the accused a right to reply. The DePaulia will be held accountable to its readers for what it reports and encourages open communication with its readers regarding the quality of the newspaper. When an error has been brought to the attention of the editorial staff, action will be taken promptly to determine if a correction is warranted. If so, the story will be amended and an editor’s note will be added to the story to clarify any changes made with an emphasis on the correct information.

Sourcing

Since earning public trust is a foundational role of a newspaper, The DePaulia pledges to rigorously and transparently source its news. Readers have the right to know where their information is coming from. Editorials, features and sports will be held to the same standard of fairness. Partisanship that attempts to persuade is encouraged, if attributed to sources and presented fairly or if it is part of an opinion piece, but not if it knowingly departs from facts or conscientiously disregards facts in evidence.