Journalistic Principles and Practices

Our Global News Vision

Our vision is to reflect Canadians and our diverse communities, to be a credible, trustworthy, essential news source that Canadians turn to first, and to be news leaders and innovators.

Our Global News Values

  • collaborative
  • honest
  • trustworthy
  • innovative
  • adaptable
  • unique
  • factual

Our Global News Promise

  • to be right before being first
  • to be connected to all Canadians
  • to celebrate our communities
  • to share Canadian common values
  • to share what makes us proud and uniquely Canadian
  • to tell stories of heroism and triumph
  • to investigate and hold power to account
  • to be leaders and innovators
  • to be trustworthy and fair

Global News Journalistic Principles and Practices

Our primary directive is to report accurate, balanced, timely and comprehensive news and information in the public interest.

Independence is a fundamental Global News value. We will resist attempts at censorship or pressure to alter news content, real or apparent.

Integrity, fairness and transparency are at the foundation of our newsgathering process. We are committed to reporting news without distortion or misrepresentation.

Getting it right is more important than getting it first. Our journalistic standards will not be compromised by the deadlines and pressures of 24-hour news.

We will not formulate news content based on our own personal cultural beliefs, opinions, corporate influences or those of anyone else engaged in its preparation or delivery.

News events and public issues may be analyzed and put into context, as long as commentary or opinion is clearly identified and kept distinct from regular news coverage.

Global News strives to reflect the diversity of Canadian society in the hiring of on-air employees, behind-the-scenes editorial decision makers, and our choices of interview subjects, experts, analysts and commentators.

Factors such as race, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, and physical or mental disability will be reported when relevant to news coverage.

We are committed to removing impediments and bans on the reporting of news in the public interest.

Clandestine reporting will only be employed when necessary to ensure the accuracy of stories in the public interest.

The Rights of the Media

The rights of the media are guaranteed in Section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms, (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.”

Ethical Code of Professional Conduct

The professional conduct of our employees should enhance the reputation, credibility, esteem and character of Global News and the practice of journalism. Employees will conduct themselves on and off the job in such a way as to avoid any perception of bias or conflict of interest. Journalists should:

  • Remain professionally detached and fair, balanced and complete when reporting the news so as not to influence the outcome of events. This does not preclude the practice of advocacy journalism in the public interest
  • Not deliberately engage in deception or attempt to mislead sources when asked to identify themselves, except in rare circumstances of overriding public interest
  • Not deliberately deceive or mislead a source as to the context or purpose of a story to convince the source to comment or provide information
  • Honour intellectual property and copyright laws
  • Properly attribute news content from other sources and not plagiarize
  • Use confidential sources only when there is an overriding public interest and when sources legitimately require their identities be concealed When we do grant anonymity, we will disclose to the audience why we have done so
  • Not make their work available to sources or other media prior to broadcast or publication by Global News without management approval
  • Not use official titles or positions in any attempt to leverage the authority and credibility of Global News to resolve personal matters or obtain financial advantages not available to the public
  • Not use Global News credentials to gain access to events they are not officially covering
  • Refrain from interviewing close relatives or friends, including freelance and contract. Exceptions would include other employees, relatives or friends who witness breaking news events
  • Obey all federal, provincial and municipal laws when conducting professional activities
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