Ethics & Standards

1. Our Core Promise

At NHA Wire, we believe that trust is the currency of journalism. Our “Ethics & Standards” are not just guidelines; they are a binding contract between our newsroom and our audience. We are committed to producing journalism that is accurate, fair, independent, and courageous.

We adhere to the highest professional standards, modeled on the principles established by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and major international wire services.

2. The Four Pillars of Our Ethics

I. Seek Truth and Report It

Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting information.

Verification: We verify every claim. We do not aggregate rumors. If we cannot confirm it, we do not publish it.
Context: We do not misrepresent or oversimplify complex stories. We provide the background necessary to understand the news.
Sourcing: We identify sources whenever possible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability and motivations.

II. Minimize Harm

Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues, and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect.

Compassion: We show sensitivity toward those who may be adversely affected by news coverage. We use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or victims of tragedy.
Privacy: We recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than public officials and others who seek power, influence, or attention.

III. Act Independently

The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public.

No Conflicts: We refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel, and special treatment.
No Pay-for-Play: We do not pay for access to news. We do not accept money for news coverage.
Distinction: We deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.

IV. Be Accountable and Transparent

Ethical journalism means taking responsibility for one’s work.

Corrections: We acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently. (See our Corrections Policy).
Engagement: We encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices and coverage.

3. Standards of Practice

A. Anonymous Sourcing Standards We grant anonymity to sources only under strict conditions:

The material is information and not opinion or speculation.
The information is vital to the news report.
The source is reliable and in a position to have direct knowledge.
The source faces potential harm (physical, economic, or legal) if identified.

B. Diversity and Inclusion Standard NHA Wire is committed to reflecting the world we cover. We strive to include diverse voices in our reporting—across race, gender, geography, and ideology—to ensure our coverage is not monolithic or biased toward one perspective.

C. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Standard Technology serves journalism; it does not replace it.

We use AI to assist with data processing and transcription.
We NEVER use AI to write news articles without human oversight.
We NEVER use AI to generate misleading images or “deepfakes.”

D. Hate Speech & Graphic Content We do not provide a platform for hate speech or incitement to violence. We publish graphic content (e.g., from war zones) only when it is essential to the public’s understanding of the event, and always with a clear warning.