Editorial & Ethics Policy
Effective Date: 1 January 2025
Last reviewed November 2025
1. Purpose and Commitment
PNG Herald is an independent news organisation committed to honest, balanced, and constructive journalism.
Our mission is to inform, inspire, and uplift Papua New Guinea and the Pacific through reliable reporting, promoting non-corrupt governance and positive good news.
We believe that ethical journalism strengthens communities, accountability, and trust.
2. Editorial Independence
PNG Herald operates free from political, commercial, and personal influence.
Editorial decisions are made by the Editor and Editorial Board based on news value, accuracy, and relevance to the public interest.
We do not accept any form of payment, sponsorship, or gift in exchange for editorial coverage.
Advertisers, sponsors, or partners have no control over editorial content or reporting priorities.
3. Accuracy and Verification
We take every reasonable step to ensure stories are accurate, fair, and properly sourced.
Our reporters verify facts through multiple credible sources and seek responses from all relevant parties before publication.
If errors are found, we correct them transparently under our Corrections & Retractions Policy.
4. Fairness and Balance
All subjects of serious criticism are given the right to respond.
Our reporting avoids sensationalism and undue harm.
We aim for balance — presenting diverse voices and perspectives, especially those that promote integrity, inclusivity, and national progress.
5. Independence from Corruption and Influence
We explicitly reject all forms of corruption, political interference, or hidden funding.
PNG Herald upholds the principle of truth before favour, and public service before profit.
No editorial staff member may accept bribes, favours, or benefits that could compromise journalistic judgment.
6. Conflicts of Interest
Staff and contributors must declare any personal, political, or financial interest that could influence their reporting.
Conflicts must be avoided or managed transparently.
Editorial contributors are not allowed to report on organisations or individuals they have direct ties to.
7. Privacy and Dignity
We respect the privacy and dignity of individuals.
We avoid publishing material that could cause unnecessary harm, embarrassment, or distress — unless there is clear public interest justification.
Photos and videos are used ethically and with context.
8. Plagiarism and Attribution
We do not tolerate plagiarism.
All borrowed material — including quotes, statistics, or multimedia — must be properly attributed to its source.
We comply with copyright law and respect creative rights of others.
9. Sponsored and Branded Content
Sponsored or paid material will always be clearly identified as such (“Sponsored”, “Paid Feature”, or “Advertisement”).
Editorial and advertising teams operate independently.
Our Advertising & Sponsored Content Policy defines what is acceptable and ensures transparency with readers.
10. Community Standards and Moderation
Reader comments, letters, and public submissions are welcome, provided they remain respectful and factual.
We reserve the right to edit or remove any content that contains:
- Hate speech, discrimination, or harassment
- Defamation or false accusations
- Unverified or offensive claims
Participation in PNG Herald’s online spaces must align with our values of constructive dialogue and ethical debate.
11. Corrections, Clarifications, and Retractions
When we make a mistake, we correct it promptly and clearly.
Corrections are noted within the article or in a dedicated “Corrections” section.
Major factual errors may also be retracted with an explanation and apology if warranted.
Our readers may request a correction by emailing editor@pngherald.com.
12. Accountability and Contact
We hold ourselves accountable to our readers and our principles.
If you believe PNG Herald has breached this Editorial Policy, you may contact:
📧 editor@pngherald.com
📧 admin@pngherald.com (general queries)
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