At AWBI.in, we are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards. This code ensures that our team members act with integrity, follow all laws and regulations, and prioritize the company’s and our users’ best interests over personal gain.
The basic precepts of the Code of Ethics are to maintain the standards of digital publishing and protect and maintain the independence of journalists, content entities and publishers.
1. Digital News Websites follow the laws of the land including the Constitution of India, the over 30 laws relating to the media, relevant provisions of IPC, CrPC as well as the Information Technology Act, 2000, where applicable.
2. They also diligently adhere to accepted norms of Journalistic Ethics and practices and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct. There are several layers of these self-regulatory ethics and codes including as outlined by specific entities as well as rigorous processes in newsrooms at the level of journalists and editors.
3. Accuracy, Transparency & Fairness: Members should eschew the publication of inaccurate, baseless or distorted material. Pre-publication verification should be mandatory. Defamation should be avoided. Adherence to applicable laws and rules is necessary.
4. Right of Reply
a). News reports and articles should incorporate comments or versions of a person or party in respect of whom allegations are carried. If not carried, the person or party’s response, if received later, is to be incorporated.
b). If there are developments in the news, and the concerned person or party requests an update, the same must be carried out appropriately. The date of the update should also appear in the news item published.
5. Take Down, Delete or Edit
If a news report or article is found to contain false or inaccurate information, then on approach by the concerned person or party, providing correct information, identifying himself or herself, and providing required documents or material, the portion of the news report or article should be edited or deleted.
If the entire news report is found to contain false, inaccurate information, the entire article should be deleted.
6. Respect Intellectual Property Rights
a). Copyright in text, photographs, plans, diagrams, cartoons, etc must be respected. If copyrighted material is used, then prior permission should be taken and publication must acknowledge moral and ownership rights.
b). If permission requires payment of a fee or royalty, the same must be paid.
c). Trade Marks and Service Marks of third parties are not to be used except with prior permission or if such use constitutes fair use.
d). In case of infringement of intellectual property upon receiving any request and after getting the necessary documents the concerned content should be edited, deleted or taken down if necessary.
7. Care to be taken for reporting sensational matters and crime. The presumption of innocence must be preserved. Comments and speculation on evidence, witness and witness conduct, accused and victim and their respective conduct to be avoided. Such reporting should be based on facts and unbiased.
8. Special care to be taken while reporting on sexual harassment in the workplace, child abuse, rape, where accused or victims are minors, matrimonial, riots and communal disputes/clashes, divorce and custody cases, adoption matters, etc.
Care to be taken, to follow Sections 67, 67A and 67B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 where applicable — which provide for penalties for publishing or transmitting obscene material, sexually explicit material and also material depicting children in sexually explicit acts, in electronic form.
9. Grievance Redressal Mechanism
Members when intermediaries as defined under the Information Technology Act, 2000— follow the grievance redressal mechanism as outlined therein and are cognizant of the liabilities and safe harbour protections under Section 79 of the IT Act 2000.
Hence, as relevant, they follow the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011 including appointing a grievance officer whose contact details are displayed on the website and who acts within 36 hours of receipt of the complaint by the affected person and redresses the complaint within one month from its receipt.
10. Conflicts of Interest
Associates should avoid any situation that involves or may involve a conflict between their personal interest and the interest of the Company. As in all other facets of their duties, associates dealing with customers, suppliers, contractors, competitors or any person doing or seeking to do business with the company are to act in the best interest of the company. Each associate shall make prompt and full disclosure in writing to their manager of any potential situation which may involve a conflict of interest. Such conflicts include:
a). Ownership by an associate or by a member of their family of a significant interest in any outside enterprise that does or seeks to do business with or is a competitor of the company.
b). Serving as a director, officer, partner, consultant, or in a managerial or technical capacity with an outside enterprise that does or is seeking to do business with or is a competitor of the company. Exceptions to this can be approved by the Chief Executive Officer of AWBI.in.
c). Acting as a broker, finder, go-between or otherwise for the benefit of a third party in transactions involving or potentially involving the Company or its interests.
d). Any other arrangements or circumstances, including family or other personal relationships, which might dissuade the associate from acting in the best interest of the company.
11. Confidential Information
The revelation or use of any confidential product information, data on decisions, plans, or any other information that might be contrary to the interest of the Company without prior authorization, is prohibited. The misuse, unauthorized access to, or mishandling of confidential information, particularly personnel information, is strictly prohibited and will subject an associate to the Discipline Policy up to and including immediate discharge.
12. Compliance
Any violation of this policy will subject the associate to Administrative disciplinary action or immediate discharge. Any Company associate having knowledge of any violation of the policy shall promptly report such violation to the appropriate level of management. Each vice president and company officer of AWBI.in is responsible for compliance in their area of responsibility. When questions arise concerning any aspect of this policy, contact the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources.
13. Plagiarism: At AWBI.in, Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and prohibited.
14. Fact-checking: We give accurate information instead of breaking the news. We will wait before sharing if enough information is not available and not to speculate. It is also Our intention to slow down the way ‘breaking news’ comes out, which often leads to false or inaccurate information being circulated in society.
Last Updated: 14 May, 2024
