We, at Bihar Khabar (Bihar Khabar Group), follow the Code of Ethics for Professional Journalists (SPJ) for our staff and anyone else who helps us make and produce content.

Opening Statement

The people who belong to the Society of Professional Journalists think that enlightening the public comes before fairness and is the basis of democracy. To do that, the writer has to look for the truth and give a fair, complete account of what happened and what’s going on. Honest and thorough journalism is what all responsible writers, no matter what kind of media or specialty, do for the public. Honesty in the workplace is very important for a journalist’s trustworthiness. People who are part of the Society are all committed to acting in an honest way, and they use this code to set the Society’s rules and guidelines for how to act.

Locate and Report the Truth

When journalists gather, publish, and make sense of information, they should be honest, fair, and brave. Authors and reporters should

• Make sure that all the information you get is correct, and be careful not to make mistakes by accident. On purpose, deception is never okay.
• Do your best to find people who are the subject of news stories so that they can reply to claims of wrongdoing.
• Find sources as often as you can. The public has a right to know as much as possible about how reliable sources are.
• If a source promises privacy, you should always ask them why they are doing it. Make it clear what the terms of any promise made in exchange for information are. Don’t break your promises.
• Check that headlines, teasers for news and promotions, pictures, videos, audio, graphics, sound bites, and quotes don’t give false information. Instances shouldn’t be oversimplified or brought up out of context.
• Never change what’s in news pictures or videos. Improving an image for technical reasons is always okay. Put labels on picture montages and illustrations.
• Stay away from false reenactments or fake news events. If you have to reenact something to tell a story, name it.
• If using open or standard methods won’t get you information that is important to the public, don’t use undercover or other sneaky ways to get it. Using these kinds of methods should be explained in the story.
• Avoid copying other people’s work.
• Do not be afraid to tell the story of the vast and varied human experience, even if it is not what most people want to hear.
• People should look at their own cultural beliefs and not try to force them on other people.
• Don’t judge people based on their race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, where they live, their sexual orientation, their disability, how they look, or their social position.
• Support the free sharing of ideas, even ones that bother them.
• Let people who don’t have a voice be heard; both public and unofficial sources of information can be correct.
• Differentiate between activism and reporting the news. It’s important that analysis and comments are clearly labeled and don’t change the facts or the context.
• Separate advertising from news, and stay away from blends that make it hard to tell the difference.
• Understand that they have a special duty to make sure that public business is done in public and that people can look at government records.
• Cut down on harm

Ethical writers treat their sources, subjects, and coworkers like people who deserve respect. Authors and reporters should:

• Understand that news coverage can have a negative impact on some people. When working with children or sources or subjects who are new to what you’re doing, be extra careful.
• Be sensitive when you look for or use photos or interviews of people who have been touched by tragedy or grief.
• Know that getting knowledge and reporting it may hurt or make you feel bad. Following the news doesn’t give you the right to be cocky.
• Know that private individuals have more control over their own information than public officials and other people who want power, influence, or respect. Only a very important public need can make it okay to invade someone’s privacy.
• Be tasteful. Don’t give in to lurid desire.
• Be careful about naming child suspects or sex crime victims.
• When naming crime suspects before charges are officially filed, be careful.
• You should find a balance between the public’s right to know and the criminal suspect’s right to a fair hearing.
• Do things on your own

Journalists shouldn’t have to work for anyone else but the public’s right to know. Authors and reporters should:

• Do not have any real or imagined conflicts of interest.
• Stay away from people and things that could hurt your reputation or integrity.
• Do not take gifts, favors, fees, free travel, or special treatment. Also, do not work extra jobs, get involved in politics, run for public office, or volunteer for community groups if they could hurt your credibility as a writer.
• Name any problems that can’t be avoided.
• Be alert and brave when you need to hold people in power responsible.
• Advertisers and special groups should not get special treatment, and they should not be able to change the news.
• Don’t trust sources who give information in exchange for money or favors, and don’t bid for news.
• Keep your promise

The people who read, listen to, or watch journalism are responsible to them, as well as to each other. Authors and reporters should:

• Make news coverage clearer and easier to understand, and encourage people to talk to you about how journalists should act.
• Request that people complain about the news sources.
• Own up to your mistakes and fix them right away.
• Show how writers and the news media are acting unethically.
• Follow the same strict rules that they have for everyone else.