Editorial Independence, Ethics & Publication Policy

Purpose

This policy establishes the standards that govern reporting, editing, headlines, photographs, video, social media, live coverage, opinion, sponsored content, corrections, source protection and dealings with people who seek favorable or one-sided coverage.

It is designed to prevent personal pressure from becoming editorial policy.

1. Editorial Mission

Nepal Akhbar exists to serve the public's need for reliable information. Our editorial mission is to:

• Seek and publish accurate, relevant and verifiable information in the public interest.
• Treat people and communities fairly and with dignity.
• Maintain editorial independence from owners, relatives, friends, advertisers, sponsors, political groups and businesses.
• Correct significant errors openly and promptly.
• Clearly distinguish fact, analysis, allegation, opinion, satire, advertising and sponsored content.
• Avoid publishing material merely because it is viral, emotionally powerful or advantageous to someone close to us.

2. Non-Negotiable Editorial Principles

3. Religion, Politics and Identity

Nepal Akhbar is not a religious or political campaign platform. Religion, caste, ethnicity or political identity must not be used as a tool to favor or attack people.

• A story must not be given a religious angle merely to increase clicks or provoke emotion.
• Religion may be reported when genuinely relevant to the facts and public interest.
• We will avoid inflammatory generalizations and headlines that encourage hostility between communities.
• Criticism of governments, political parties, institutions or public figures is permitted when supported by facts and relevant context.

4. The Personal : Request Rule

Friends and relatives do not receive a special publishing route. Information is assessed using the same editorial standards applied to everyone.

• “Please post this because he is my friend” is not an editorial justification.
• “Do not post this because it affects someone I know” is not an editorial justification.
• One-sided coverage is not acceptable when another materially relevant side can reasonably be contacted.

5. Conflicts of Interest and Gifts

• Staff must disclose relationships that could reasonably affect editorial judgment.
• No staff member may accept money, gifts, travel or services in exchange for favorable coverage.
• Editorial information must not be used for personal business advantage.
• Advertising and sponsorship do not buy favorable editorial coverage.

6. Verification and Sources

• Use the strongest available primary sources, including official records, documents, verified witnesses and original data.
• Cross-check important facts where practical.
• Do not treat social media posts, forwarded messages, screenshots or AI-generated material as verified facts without confirmation.
• Quote people accurately and in context.
• Anonymous sources should only be used when the information is genuinely important and there is a credible reason for confidentiality.

7. Allegations, Crime and Breaking News

• An allegation is not a proven fact.
• Headlines must not present accusations as convictions unless officially established.
• Seek a meaningful response from subjects of serious allegations when practicable.
• Protect victims and other persons where law, ethics or safety requires protection.
• Do not publish rumors simply because competitors or social media are publishing them.

8. Headlines, Thumbnails and Social Media

• No misleading clickbait.
• No unrelated or misleading images.
• Developing stories must be updated as facts are confirmed.
• Social media captions, reels and thumbnails follow the same accuracy standards as articles.

9. User-Generated Content and Artificial Intelligence

• User-submitted photos, videos and documents must be checked for authenticity, date and context.
• Verification techniques should be used for important visual claims when practical.
• AI may assist with transcription, translation and formatting.
• AI output is not automatically a source of truth and must be independently checked.
• AI must not be used to fabricate quotes, events, evidence, images or audio presented as real.

10. Privacy, Children and Vulnerable People

• Privacy should be respected unless publication is justified by a clear public-interest reason.
• Exercise heightened care with children, victims, people in distress and grieving families.
• Do not publish addresses, phone numbers or unnecessary personal information.
• Public figures remain entitled to privacy where no genuine public-interest connection exists.

11. Advertising, Sponsorship and Sponsored Content

• Paid content must be clearly distinguishable from independent journalism.
• Advertisers and sponsors do not control independent editorial decisions.
• Promotional material must not be presented as independent reporting.

12. Corrections, Updates and Right of Reply

• Significant factual errors must be corrected promptly after verification.
• Corrections should be visible enough to prevent the original false impression from remaining.
• Minor formatting errors may be corrected without notice where appropriate.
• Accurate journalism is not deleted merely because a subject dislikes the coverage.

13. News, Analysis and Opinion

• News reports should present verified facts and relevant context.
• Analysis may interpret facts, but evidence and reasoning should be clear.
• Opinion and commentary must not disguise opinion as straight news.

14. Minimum Editorial Check Before Publication

15. Editorial Authority and Independence

The Editor-in-Chief, or a formally designated senior editor, has final editorial authority over publication decisions.

Owners, management, advertisers, contributors, relatives and friends may raise information or concerns, but they may not privately dictate editorial outcomes.

16. Procedure When Someone Demands One-Sided Coverage

17. Internal Enforcement

• Violations may lead to correction, reassignment, warning or termination of editorial authority, depending on seriousness.
• Knowing fabrication, paid favorable coverage disguised as news and deliberate evidence manipulation are major violations.
• Staff may raise ethics concerns in good faith without editorial retaliation.

18. Public Transparency Statement

This means a friend may be criticized if the evidence warrants it, and an opponent may be defended if the evidence warrants it. The standard is the same for everyone.

19. Adoption and Review

This policy is adopted as the internal editorial standard of Nepal Akhbar. It should be reviewed periodically and whenever applicable law, professional standards or newsroom operations materially change.

Appendix A : Reference Framework

This policy is intended to operate consistently with applicable legal and professional frameworks.

• Constitution of Nepal : Article 18: Right to Equality
• Constitution of Nepal : Article 19: Right to Communication
• Press Council Nepal: Journalist Code of Conduct 2073 (2016), First Amendment 2076 (2019)