Annexe III: Integrity
Reporting with Integrity and Accuracy from the Top to End
Being compassionate is important - we are dealing with not just furries but human lives.
Integrity means we always uphold news standards and what they stand for, even at our own expense or that of our organisations.
Integrity, or honesty - is the best policy
Always be honest
Unless keeping silent about it is needed to uncover the truth for the public good.
Secret information gathering (hidden cameras, secret recording devices, etc.) can be used only when the public interest requires public scrutiny.
Openly share your workings.
Share with everyone the things we got and how we did things.
For example, how did we get this source, why did we do a (video) edit like this, or how did we come to this conclusion?
This demonstrates transparency and bolsters public trust.
Facts first - we mean it.
We must stick with facts when reporting and never falsify information to mislead others.
Accuracy first, before anything else
Take time to brush up your accuracy instead of trying to rush things through.
Opinions and claims - are NOT facts.
Separate and point out facts, opinions and claims from each other.
For example, by law, the accused is innocent until proven guilty.
Until any hard evidence plus legal confirmations are clear, claims directed at anyone will remain claims.
Leave our own opinions and assumptions only to opinion pieces. They must be identified as such.
Context is key to understanding something.
When we understand the context - the circumstances of an event - we know better why something happened.
Name your sources all the time.
For example, the Twitter account @LittleIslandFC releases a statement about ticket prices.
The account is an official representative of Singapore’s furry convention, Little Island Furcon (LIFC), and is, hence, a reliable source of all information related to LIFC.
Say where your sources are.
It makes our report more factual and less “You made that claim up.”
On anonymous sources
As far as you can, do not use anonymous sources. Letting people use anonymity to attack others is deeply unfair for everyone involved.
We need at least three or more sources to help verify anonymous statements. Until that happens, their statements are claims.
We may give anonymity to those who face discrimination or real threats to their lives. The editorial, however, must fully be aware of its identity.
When anonymity is given, they never freely give out their real identity.
Reposting or reusing other people’s content?
We should at least credit the creator if we don’t have explicit permission to use or distribute their content.
Check their Creative Commons policy if there is any.
Be very specific about the source.
Fully their relationship with the topic we are reporting on. Negotiate hard with your source, especially if they want to be anonymous.
For example: "a security staff close to the transaction." But "a source close to the transaction" is also OK if they don't want to be identified more precisely.
"A source" or "sources, " "observers, " or "quarters" with no explanation is a no-go. So is the use of "informed sources" or "reliable sources. "
To Wiki, or to not Wiki?
Online encyclopaedias like Wikipedia are an open information contribution platform.
For furries, its equivalent is called Wikifur. It is served by registered administrators plus separately registered users.
Like what your teachers tell you - using such sources is not enough.
Why be sceptical towards wikis?
Wikis are openly collaborative. We are not saying that is wrong - but this could mean strict information rules are not there.
Since anyone can sign up as a collaborator, people may directly inject misinformation into articles.
Worse, some articles do not label citations. That is not a good thing.
What if I only have wikis as my only sources?
When there are no citations, quote the wiki - AND say no citations support the statement.
Look for and always use citation links whenever and wherever possible.
For example: “Quoting furry wiki Wikifur, 90% of furries are cuties. However, we cannot verify this because the statement’s source has not yet been given.”
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