Cayman Free Press Ethics Policies:

• WE ARE COMMITTED TO: 
• Seeking the truth and reporting in a truthful way
• Serving the public interest
• Exercising fair play
• Maintaining independence
• Acting with integrity
• WE WILL: 
• Dedicate ourselves to reporting the news accurately, thoroughly and in context.
• Be honest in the way we gather, report and present news.
• Be persistent in the pursuit of the whole story.
• Keep our word.
• Hold factual information in opinion columns and editorials to the same standards of accuracy as news stories.
• Seek to gain sufficient understanding of the communities, individuals and stories we cover to provide an informed account of activities.

Serving the public interest - we will: 

• Be vigilant watchdogs of government and institutions that affect the public.
• Provide the news and information that people need to function as effective citizens.
• Seek solutions as well as expose problems and wrongdoing.
• Reflect and encourage understanding of the diverse segments of our community.
• Provide editorial and community leadership.
• Seek to promote understanding of complex issues.

Exercising fair play - we will: 

• Treat people with dignity, respect and compassion.
• Correct errors promptly.
• Strive to include all sides relevant to a story and not take sides in news coverage.
• Explain to readers our journalistic processes.
• Give particular attention to fairness in relations with people unaccustomed to dealing with the press.
• Use unnamed sources as the sole basis for published information only as a last resort and under specific procedures that best serve the public's right to know.
• Be accessible to readers.

Maintaining independence - we will: 

• Remain free of outside interests, investments or business relationships that may compromise the credibility of our news report.
• Maintain an impartial, arm's length relationship with anyone seeking to influence the news.
• Avoid potential conflicts of interest and eliminate inappropriate influence on content.
• Be free of improper obligations to news sources, newsmakers and advertisers.
• Differentiate advertising from news – eg by use of the term ADVERTORIAL.

Acting with integrity - we will: 

• Act honourably and ethically in dealing with news sources, the public and our colleagues.
• Obey the law.
• Observe common standards of decency.
• Take responsibility for our decisions and consider the possible consequences of our actions.
• Always try to do the right thing.