Staff members of The New York Times are subject to certain requirements. These include not wearing campaign buttons or other political partisanship. As a result, they are prohibited from accepting gifts or payments for favorable coverage. However, they may accept honoraria or receive free transportation. The article also urges reporters to be more objective about their sources. Moreover, employees should adhere to the Times’s policies and regulations. Below are some examples of how journalists and staff members can behave ethically and maintain their independence while at work.
Staff members may not accept gifts
Staff members of The New York Times are prohibited from accepting or receiving gifts from individuals or organizations they cover. Some exceptions to this policy are made for trinkets of nominal value, but these gifts must be returned with a polite explanation. The Times provides a sample letter for returning gifts. In addition, staff members at The Times may not accept employment or compensation from individuals or organizations that are covered by the paper.
They may not accept payments for favorable coverage
The New York Times does not accept payments for favorable coverage, but certain staff members may be subject to conflicts of interest. For example, book review editors and culture editors may not enter into commercial arrangements with publishers or studios unless the Executive Editor approves them. Photographers, picture editors, and art directors are prohibited from accepting gifts from manufacturers or vendors. Technology editors are also prohibited from endorsing products or offering their opinions on their design.
They may accept honoraria
While the Times may accept honoraria from individuals they cover, the rules for accepting such payments are stricter than for employees. Staff members should not accept gifts or dinners from organizations or individuals they cover, including free transportation to and from the event. Instead, they should discuss the invitation with their supervisors and opinion or standards editors. It’s best not to accept speaking invitations from organizations that offer prizes or other forms of compensation to attract customers.
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They may compete in competitions sponsored by groups
When considering whether or not to enter a competition, The New York Times must ensure that it is appropriate for its staff. Times employees may not compete in competitions sponsored by groups outside of the company and are not permitted to accept awards or act as judges in those competitions. This policy may be waived under certain circumstances, however, as long as the competition is not sponsored by a group with which The Times has a conflict of interest.
They may not accept payments for sales pitches
If a company or individual is offering The New York Times the opportunity to advertise on its website or in its printed edition, its staff members are not permitted to accept payments for these advertisements. In addition, Times employees should refrain from taking gifts from such organizations and individuals. Though some exceptions may be made, the policy requires that staff members return any gifts received for a reasonable explanation. For example, a gift of a small trinket of a dollar amount must be returned politely to the sender. A sample letter is available in the appendix.