Top Ten Dont's

At OneNews we take your safety as a freelance reporter as seriously as the quality and the authenticity of your work. Please read the following tips carefully, they can help you become a more successful freelance reporter. We are also open to your great input so please don't be shy, tell us how you feel and how we can further support you in your efforts moving forward.

Here are some quick pointers to set you on the right course:

1. Don't Put Yourself in Dangerous Situations:

Safety First. Your great news footage doesn't do anyone any good if you don't stay alive long enough to upload it. Don't take unnecessary risks.

2. Don't Manipulate Digital Images:

In this era of widespread photo forgery made possible through the wide availability of robust photo-editing software, it is of the utmost importance that you never compromise your ethics by manipulating your images to misrepresent the story being told.

3. Don't Trespass or Intrude Upon the Privacy of Others:

Not only is trespassing ethically wrong, it's also a criminal act... only go where you have permission to.

4. Don't Mislead or Misrepresent:

Keep it clean. Cover the facts. Make certain your photos, videos, audio, sound bites and quotations do not mislead viewers or misrepresent the story. Don't make things up. Don't invent characters, quotations or occurrences. Don't oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context. Don't stage news events. We are here to expose the truth.

5. Don't be Insensitive:

Be compassionate in your coverage, especially to victims of loss or those who may be adversely affected by news coverage. Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief. Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort.

6. Don't Identify Vulnerable Individuals:

Children are the most vulnerable population on our planet. Do not identify juvenile suspects or victims. Also, do not identify adult or juvenile victims of sexual assault.

7. Don't Take Bribes:

Don't accept gifts, favors, fees, free travel and/or special treatment in exchange for covering or misrepresenting the news. Be wary of sources offering information in exchange for favors or money.

8. Don't Plagiarize:

Never use the words and ideas of another without giving credit to the source.

9. Don't Abuse the OneNews Trademark:

You are working as an independent freelancer submitting content to OneNews. Don't identify yourself as working at OneNews. Even if you accept one of our assignments, you are still an independent freelancer. You don't work at OneNews. If you are contacted or questioned directly by a journalist regarding issues of concern to the OneNews, advise the journalist to contact our corporate headquarters for answers to their questions.

10. Don't Use Poor Judgment:

Remember that there are always consequences to what you do. If you're about to do something that makes you even the slightest bit uncomfortable, review the suggestions above and think about why that is. Ultimately, you have sole responsibility for the actions you engage in and the content you upload to OneNews. If in doubt, don't!