2. Birth reports should include the name of the parents, street address where available, date of birth, sex and name of child. grandparents who live within The Mercuy's circulation area should also be included.
BOOK REVIEWS
The book review page is a community-oriented project. Anyone may submit a review. However, in order to prevent redundancy, the reviewer should contact the book review editor.
The length of the review should not exceed 30 published inches (about three or four double spaced, typed pages. The publication date of any review depends on factors including, but not limited to, quality of the review, topicality, and backlog of other reviews.
BUSINESS NEWS
1. When the use of a business affiliation and-or title helps identify a person (in the context of the story involved) in a general news story, it is used. For example: If an adjustor of a local insurance agency is being interviewed on the subject of insurance rates, then that person's affiliation and business are proper for mention. If the same person is involved in an armed robbery, the business affiliation is generally not pertinent.
2. Price announcements are often news, and may be reported as such. If the cost of a gallon of gas rises or drops sharply, a story on that subject may logically report where the price fluctuations are occurring, notwithstanding the business implications. Take care to distinguish between the legitimate aspects of price movements and the simple conduct of a sale.
3. We welcome substantive news stories concerning businesses (new employees, promotions, expansions). Whether the stories are newsworthy should be given careful consideration. Distinguish between the newsworthy and the free advertising.
4. Items concerning business persons attending schools are run if the schools run for five days or longer.
5. If the monetary value of a contest or donation exceeds $199, then it merits a news report. If the value of a contest or donation exceeds $999, a picture may be run.
6. Awards must be of a substantive nature in order to be published. Awards should have a translatable dollar value of more than $199 to be mentioned as a news item, and more than $999 to be mentioned as a photo.
7. Photos depicting check presentations are discouraged. Nor will photos depicting award presentations, or handshakes. This guideline is meant to specifically bar the use of so-called "grip and grin" photos, and should be interpreted in that manner. We welcome photos from readers, but we want them to be interesting photos.
8. We are obligated only to our readers. This is the most important guideline of all. The judgments ought to be our judgments, and ought to be made purely on the merits of the case.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Based on an understanding of the value of a full, free and open discussion of issues, The Mercury's strong bias is toward naming all sources who are identified in news articles. Reporters should assume that all sources must be prepared to be publicly identified except under unusual circumstances.
Reporters should be aware of the necessity for considering the motivation of the person requesting a status of anonymity. For example, if a political operative requests anonymity in exchange for providinginformation damaging to the candidacy of an opponent, fairness may argue against a granting of anonymity.
A final decision regarding the granting of anonymity will be made by the editor in consultation with the reporter. Reporters, therefore, are cautioned to use their best judgment, but to avoid making iron-clad promises unless they are certain they will be able to keep them. As a general practice, the alternative to granting of anonymity will be a decision not to use the material in question at all.
DECEPTION
It is this newspaper's policy that deceptive practices shall not be used in gathering information for news stories.
Actions that would be considered illegal -- including, but not limited to, theft, fraud and trespassing -- are not permitted. Methods that violate individual privacy rights are not condoned by this newspaper.
ETHICS GUIDELINES
Not every conflict of interest situation can be avoided and certainly not every one can be anticipated by these guidelines. The best guide is the basic idea of personal integrity. But we believe that in our business the shielding of our news and editorial columns from outside influence, direct or indirect, is essential. We also believe that our good reputation, both personally and as a company, demands integrity and honesty in the dealings of departments not directly involved in news and editorial content.
We exist to inform and entertain readers, and our continued existence as an institution and a business is dependent upon our doing that job professionally, with insight into our readers' lives, needs and interests. We cannot do this job unless our readers know that we have those needs and interests and none other in mind. To that end, we must hold to higher standards than the community at large, above reproach in our objectivity, truthfulness and honesty. Even the appearance of outside influence, whether in fact exerted or intended, will damage public confidence in our integrity.
These rules and guidelines apply to all employees of the company. They have as their main purpose the elimination of any conflict of interest by any employee and the further elimination of the appearance of any conflict of interest.
The Mercury's management is confident that all employees will recognize the need for this policy. Any violation will result in a suspension; multiple infractions will result in discharge.
The following rules and guidelines apply:
--Gifts and Gratuities: No Mercury employee should encourage or accept gifts, gratuities or other special considerations having monetary value. Gifts of insignificant value (such as calendar, pencil or key chain) may be accepted if refusing or returning them would be awkward. All other gifts should be declined.
A gift that exceeds token value ($5) should be returned promptly with an explanation that accepting it is against company policy. If returning it is impractical, the company will donate it to a charity.
--Free Tickets and Passes : Free tickets and/or passes to sports events, movies, theatrical productions, circuses or other entertainments may not be accepted or solicited by employees or reviewers. This includes tickets or passes on which service charges are made.
This does not apply to events where there are special facilities, such as press boxes or press tables, for which tickets are not sold. A working reporter may accept a press box ticket or pass, but for coverage only. Employees may not solicit or receive tickets or passes for others.
Critics buy tickets to everything they review and receive reimbursement from the company.
--Travel : Junkets, free trips and reduced rate or subsidized travel not available to the general public may not be accepted by any employee.
--Memberships: Free or reduced rate memberships in private clubs or similar organizations should not be accepted.
--Books, Records : Books, CDs or tapes that are supplied for review or promotion may not be kept by staff members..
--Use of Merchandise or Products: Employees may not accept the free use or reduced rate purchase of merchandise or products for personal pleasure when such an offer involves the employee's newspaper position. The only exception is the use of a product for a short time to evaluate it for a news or feature story or for purchase for the company. Any extended or regular use of products for these purposes is not allowed.
--Entertainment: Whenever possible, employees should pay for meals and drinks when on company business.
--Outside Activities: Publicity work and public relations for organizations in our circulation area should be avoided. Involvement with special interest groups in the community should be avoided where staffers' duties to the newspaper could conflict with their obligations to the group. An employee who discovers a potential conflict of interest of this nature should report the conflict to the company and be prepared to resolve it. Furthermore, employees should not use their positions with the paper to their advantage in commercial transactions or for other personal gain. This specifically prohibits such practices as the use of company stationery for personal dealings.
--Political Activities: Work for a politician or a political organization, either paid or voluntary, is forbidden. Also forbidden is (1) holding public office or (2) accepting political appointment to any position for which there is remuneration other than expenses. There is no quicker source of misunderstanding and suspicion in our profession than the area of politics. We must not give any person reason to suspect that our handling of a story, editorial or picture is related in any way to political activity by a member of the staff.
Outside Employment : Outside employment is not permitted which in any way is connected with the newspaper's role in the community or which might compromise, or appear to compromise, us individually or as an institution.
Occasional appearances on television or radio panels or interview show are allowed with advance permission of the company so long as they are consistent with the other rules above. Freelance writing generally is permitted, except for competing media.
EVENTS AND NOTICES
The Events and Notices section of Page A2 is designed for reporting on irregular events that may be considered of interest to the public. In order to qualify for inclusion in one of these categories, an item must meet all of the following criteria:
1. It must not be a regularly scheduled meeting. That is, it must be a special meeting, or a meeting of a group that regularly meets less frequently than monthly.
2. It must be open to the public.
3. An admission fee may not be charged.
4. It must have a topic or guest speaker of sufficient public interest to the public to be plausibly pertinent as news.
5. Unless specifically excepted, it should be an event occurring within our circulation area. In cases of exceptions, the local pertinence of the item should be evident.
The above guidelines may be inapplicable in some circumstances. For example, logic dictates that were the president of the United States to visit the local men's garden club, we would consider that worth mention, notwithstanding that the local men's garden club meetings are held monthly, and are not open to the public. Let logic dictate your consideration of exceptions.
HEADLINES
The most important rule concerning headlines is that they clearly and accurately convey the substance of the story. Interest and readership is a second vital consideration. Appropriate size will vary depending on the length and importance of the story.
OBITUARIES
The Manhattan Mercury publishes basic obituary information for free as a news service. This includes a basic biography of the deceased, surviving relatives, and funeral services information.
As a public service, The Mercury will also publish additional material for a fee. This may include an extended biography, a supplementary list of relatives or friends, or other material.
Here are the specifics:
1. The following material will be published free of charge.
--A. Name of deceased, age of deceased, date of death, place of death.
--B. Residence, place of birth, date of birth, marital history, high school and higher levels of education attained .
--C. The deceased's principal occupation, church affiliation, and organizational memberships up to a maximum of four memberships. Military service information, including combat awards will also be run free of charge.
--D. Surviving relatives, including: Parents by name and residence. Spouse by name and residence. Children by name and residence. Brothers and sisters by name and residence. Grandparents by name and residence. Grandchildren by number. Great-grandchildren by number. Nephews and nieces, or cousins, in both cases only if there are no other survivors, and in both cases only by number unless there are local surviving nephews and nieces. In that event, the nephews and nieces who survive locally may be named. The same is true of cousins.
--E. General funeral service information, including time, date, place, celebrant, funeral home handling arrangements. This information should be of a general nature, excluding such material as pall bearers, songs, eulogies.
2. Subjects in obituaries should be referred to on second reference by courtesy titles, such as Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms.
3. Cause of death is mandatory when pertinent, as for instance in the death of a person under age 40. Cause of death is also to be mentioned when the cause would be considered newsworthy, such as a murder, suicide, or public death.
4. The following persons who precede the deceased in death should be mentioned: Spouse, children.
5. Information pertaining to memorials is welcome.
6. Information pertaining to a past resident's length of stay in Manhattan is welcome. This frequently provides explanation for why an out-of-town obituary is being run. As a rule of thumb, it should be evident at or near the top of an obituary why that obituary is being run in The Mercury.
7. Use of nicknames in obituaries are acceptable (when used in connection with the deceased's actual name) so long as the nickname is not pejorative or derogatory, and so long as there is reason to believe the deceased wished its use, or the family wishes it.
8. Use of photos will be considered on an individual case basis when they are available.
9. Headlines may well be appropriate on some obituaries, notably those of prominent persons. This is considered on a case-by-case basis.
10. Requests for special treatment in obituaries should be carefully considered. For example, the age of the deceased should not be omitted, nor should the circumstances of death, if appropriate, even in deference to the wishes of family members.
11. Obituaries are taken at The Mercury office until 10 a.m. for that day's paper. Obituaries are priority items on Page A2; that is, they may run to the exclusion of some other items. Obituaries received here after 10 a.m. may run only subject to space-time demands of the page.
POLICE AND COURT REPORTING
Report all police and court matters accurately from the best source available, and attribute that source.
The following addresses commonly asked questions about covering the police beat.
1. All police and court matters that The Mercury reports are to be reported accurately from the best source available (see above).
2. All reports of crimes against persons filed with the police are reported, including the name, address and other information necessary and available to aid in identification of the reporting party, with only two exceptions.
--A. The first exception involves the crimes of rape or sodomy. In reporting them, the identity of the victim shall be omitted, and the location of the offense, insofar as it may tend to identify the victim, should be generalized. This proscription shall be in force for all subsequent reports pertaining to the offense up through and including the trial. If a trial is held and a verdict of not guilty is returned, then an editor may determine whether the name of the accusing party may be included in the report of that non guilty verdict.
--B. The second exception involves the crime of incest. In reporting an incidence of incest, the identity of the victim shall be omitted, and the specific nature of the crime not mentioned. This is an effort to mask the identity of the victim, who by definition is related to the accused.
3. At The Mercury, all reports of crimes against property are reported when the estimated dollar value of property loss or damage exceeds $500.
4. All arrests in Riley County are reported without exception. Notices to Appear involving alcohol-related offenses are reported without exception. In every case, our effort should be to insure the reporting of disposition of all such matters as well.
5. With respect to items 2 through 4 above, exceptions are never permitted. The penalty for violation of items 2 through 4 above shall be automatic dismissal on the first offense.
6. In gathering police and court news, emphasis is on accuracy. Information should be taken only from the best available source.
7. If an arrest is involved, always obtain as complete an identification of the arrested party as possible. This must include, at minimum, the name, address and age.
8. There are some matters reported to police that the Mercury does not routinely report. These include requests for house checks, domestic disturbances (unless a crime occurs), and reports of harassing phone calls or visits.
9. Accidents are reported if they are listed as "major damage," and if any of the following applies: they are hit-and-run accidents, injuries are reported, or citations are issued. In reporting those accidents, the following information should be obtained.
A. Full name of driver(s)
B. Age(s), if available.
C. Address(es).
D. Extent(s) of injury, if any.
E. Location of accident.
F. Description of accident, if pertinent.
14. As with crime reports, all accidents listed by the police as "major damage" are reported without exception, and the penalty for first violation is dismissal.
REVIEWS
1. The Mercury's policy is to provide as complete as possible a coverage of the local performing and visual arts. This includes publishing reviews of local performances.
2. When available, a local review should be published daily.
3. Timeliness of reviews is important. The Mercury will not publish reviews of ongoing performances or exhibitions (movies, art shows, for example) after those performances have ceased. Reviews of performances of shorter duration— dramatic or musical events—should be published as quickly as possible.
SUICIDES
A frank newspaper account puts an end to rumors. Therefore, The Mercury publishes stories on all successful suicides. It is not appropriate to dwell on the method or be so specific as to influence another to take his or her own life. Stories about suicides should include all requirements of an obituary plus motive, method, circumstances and inquest.
Legally, no suicide is a suicide until so stated by a coroner's jury.
Attempted suicides are not published except under one of the following two circumstances:
A. Charges are filed due to extenuating circumstances.
B. The attempt takes place in public, or becomes a public event.
Example: A person shoots himself in his house and survives. This story would not be run.
Example: A person blows up his car in a suicide effort, but lives. This story would be run.
