Our Code of Ethics
The principles that govern our journalism, our conduct, and our relationship with the communities we serve.
Our commitment
Pareng Media is a South Sudanese grassroots media organization that operates on the belief that access to accurate, fair, and independent information is a fundamental right of every community. This Code of Ethics sets forth the principles and standards that guide our editorial decisions, our conduct in the field, and our relationship with the people and communities we serve.
Every member of the Pareng Media team — whether staff, contributor, correspondent, or volunteer — is bound by this Code. Violations are taken seriously and may result in corrective action, including removal from the team.
This Code is a living document. It is reviewed periodically and updated to reflect the evolving challenges and responsibilities of community journalism in South Sudan and across the diaspora.
What we stand for
1. Truth and Accuracy
- We are committed to reporting the truth. We verify information before publication using multiple independent sources wherever possible.
- We distinguish clearly between fact, analysis, and opinion. We do not present speculation as established fact.
- When we make errors, we correct them promptly, transparently, and prominently. Corrections are never hidden or minimized.
- We do not fabricate information, manipulate images or audio to misrepresent reality, or plagiarize the work of others.
2. Fairness and Impartiality
- We present all relevant sides of a story. We give subjects of critical reporting a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication.
- We do not allow personal, political, ethnic, or commercial interests to influence our editorial decisions.
- We are transparent about potential conflicts of interest and recuse ourselves from coverage where our impartiality may reasonably be questioned.
- Headlines and summaries accurately reflect the content of our reporting. We do not use misleading or sensational framing.
3. Dignity and Harm Minimization
- We treat every person in our coverage with dignity and respect, regardless of their status, ethnicity, gender, religion, or political affiliation.
- We are especially careful in our coverage of vulnerable populations, including children, refugees, survivors of violence, and people in crisis.
- We do not publish graphic images or details of violence, suffering, or death unless there is a compelling public interest and no less harmful alternative.
- We obtain informed consent before publishing personal stories, photographs, or interviews, particularly from individuals who may not understand the reach of digital media.
4. Independence and Transparency
- Pareng Media maintains editorial independence from all political parties, governments, armed groups, and commercial entities.
- We do not accept payments, gifts, or favors that could compromise our editorial judgment or create the appearance of compromise.
- We are transparent about our funding sources, our organizational structure, and our editorial processes.
- Sponsored content, if any, is clearly labeled and separated from editorial content. Our audience always knows who is speaking.
5. Community Responsibility
- We recognize that our reporting has real consequences for real people. We weigh the public interest against the potential harm of publication.
- We do not incite violence, hatred, or discrimination against any group. We are mindful of the power of media in a fragile context.
- We actively seek out underrepresented voices and ensure that our coverage reflects the diversity of South Sudanese communities.
- We engage with our audience, respond to feedback, and take complaints seriously through a transparent process.
6. Accountability
- We hold ourselves to the same standards of accountability that we expect from the institutions and individuals we cover.
- We publish this Code of Ethics publicly so that our audience can hold us to it.
- We maintain an internal review process for editorial complaints and publish the outcomes of significant reviews.
- We cooperate with recognized press councils and media accountability bodies where they exist.
Sensitive reporting
Conflict and Crisis Reporting
In covering conflict, displacement, and humanitarian crises, we prioritize the safety of our team and the dignity of affected populations. We do not publish information that could endanger individuals or communities. We verify claims from all parties and resist pressure to serve as a mouthpiece for any armed group, government, or faction. We are especially cautious with information that could be used to target individuals or groups.
Children and Minors
We do not publish the names, photographs, or identifying details of children involved in criminal proceedings, custody disputes, or situations of abuse or exploitation. When covering stories involving children, we obtain consent from a parent or guardian and consider the long-term impact of publication on the child.
Ethnic and Community Sensitivity
South Sudan is a diverse nation with over 60 ethnic groups. We are acutely aware that media coverage can either bridge or deepen divisions. We do not identify individuals by ethnicity unless it is directly relevant to the story and serves the public interest. We avoid language that stereotypes, marginalizes, or dehumanizes any group. We actively seek to include diverse voices in our coverage.
How we uphold this Code
All members of the Pareng Media team are required to read, understand, and sign this Code of Ethics upon joining. Compliance is not optional. Violations are investigated through an internal review process, and outcomes may include a formal warning, mandatory retraining, suspension, or removal from the team.
Members of the public who believe that Pareng Media has violated this Code are encouraged to submit a complaint to [email protected]. All complaints are reviewed by the editorial leadership and a response is provided within 14 working days.
This Code was adopted by the Pareng Media editorial team and is effective as of January 2024. It will be reviewed annually.