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South Berwick Reporter Ethics and Policies

Editorial Independence

Our standards of editorial independence are based on those of the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of foundations, donors, sponsors, advertisers, or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. South Berwick Reporter may decline to accept financial support if such support or advertising may be perceived as implied or actual endorsement of the donor, sponsor or advertiser, their products, services or opinions, or as an endorsement of public officials or candidates for public office.

South Berwick Reporter may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.

The South Berwick Reporter Board of Directors share a belief that vigorous coverage of government and public policy is essential to the common good. It is that belief, rather than a commitment to any particular cause, that leads them to contribute their time and expertise to South Berwick Reporter. Each board member adheres to the organization’s news and editorial independence policy.

Donor Transparency

We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.

Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants, and sponsorships from individuals, organizations, and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics, and special projects. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as a public trust, we do not pay certain taxes. We may receive funds from standard government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses.

Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content. We will not accept donations from sources who are deemed by our board of directors to present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.

We will accept anonymous donations for general support only if it is clear that sufficient safeguards have been put into place that the expenditure of that donation is made independently by our organization and in compliance with Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) Membership Standards. The South Berwick Reporter will attest that no more than 15 percent of its total annual revenue will come from anonymous donors.

Conflict of Interest Policy

The following Conflict of Interest Policy is an effort to ensure deliberations and decisions of The South Berwick Reporter are made in the interest promoting the quality of journalism in Maine and to protect the interests of the South Berwick Reporter when it considers any transaction, contract, or arrangement that might benefit or be perceived to benefit the private interest of a person affiliated with the South Berwick Reporter, including a board director, employee, paid legal counsel, paid financial advisor or regular volunteers.

Each South Berwick Reporter Representative owes a duty when making decisions affecting the organization to be faithful to the nonprofit mission and are not permitted in making these decisions to act in a way that is inconsistent with the central goals of the organization and its nonprofit status.

Gifts

Accepting benefits of any kind that could potentially compromise the decision-making freedom of the South Berwick Reporter and any representative of the South Berwick Reporter is incompatible with the mission, reputation, and independence of the organization.

Representatives of the South Berwick Reporter do not accept invitations or gifts whose value might influence the objectivity of a South Berwick Reporter representative. Any gift with a value of $50 or more not from a family member, or any gifts with a cumulative value in excess of $50 received in a 12-month period from a single source, shall be considered substantial and not permitted. Gifts integral to a news piece in progress that editors have sanctioned such as a ticket to an event being covered, a book to review, a cup of coffee during an interview, or organizational activities such as travel reimbursement for delivering a talk are permitted. No substantial gifts will be accepted during a pitch or conversation for a potential story or interview. If a representative is in doubt about the acceptability of an offer, editorial staff will be consulted and informed and if necessary, the Board of Directors.

Conflicts of Interest:

The following are examples of conflicts of interest that must be disclosed to the board by any South Berwick Reporter representative with knowledge of such conflict of interest:

  1. any real or apparent conflict of interest between a donor or the subject of a South Berwick Reporter article and a South Berwick Reporter representative;
  2. a South Berwick Reporter representative’s ownership of a financial interest in a person or entity that is or will be the subject of a South Berwick Reporter story; and
  3. failure to disclose to the South Berwick Reporter all immediate family, business or close personal relationships between the subject of any South Berwick Reporter story and any South Berwick Reporter representative.

Conflict Procedure:

  1. If a South Berwick Reporter representative or party related to a South Berwick Reporter representative has an interest in any contract, action or transaction to be entered into with South Berwick Reporter, a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists. Any South Berwick Reporter representative with knowledge that a conflict of interest exists or may exist will notify the editors and, if any representative finds it necessary, the Board of Directors.
  2. The South Berwick Reporter abides by the Maine Whistleblower law. All board members and staff have been alerted to this law and sent a copy which can be found here.
  3. The Board may authorize and appoint a committee to act in place of the Board to determine whether the conflict of interest compromises the South Berwick Reporter.
  4. Any time a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest is
    identified and elevated to the board level, it will be put on the Board agenda for the next meeting by the knowledgeable representative. The notice will include a full description of the conflict of interest to be discussed. The directors on the Board will be advised that a vote will be taken by disinterested directors at the meeting to either approve or disapprove the action. The interested party/parties can help make up the necessary quorum.
  5. The board of directors will invite all parties to the conflict of interest to attend the meeting, to make presentations, provide to the extent possible all material gathered and be prepared to answer questions. To the extent possible materials will be provided before the meeting.
  6. The board of directors or the committee, as applicable, must discuss and decide whether the action, contract or transaction would be in the best interest of The South Berwick Reporter.
  7. All interested directors must abstain from voting and, if requested by a majority of disinterested directors, leave the room when the vote is taken.
  8. The board or committee will maintain a written account of the meeting with a full description of the material facts and information provided and incorporate it into the minutes of the meeting and disseminate it to the full board. These minutes will be presented for approval at the next board meeting and maintained in the corporate record book.
  9. If the conflict of interest is continuing and the contract, action or transaction goes beyond one year, the notice and discussion and vote will be repeated on an annual basis.

Personal Loans. 

The South Berwick Reporter may not loan to, or guarantee the personal obligations of, any South Berwick Reporter representative.

Correction Policy

The South Berwick Reporter acknowledges mistakes and corrects them promptly. Corrections and clarifications are explained clearly. To report an error, readers can email sbreporter@southberwickreporter.org