Policies adopted: Journalists’ Code of Conduct – Equal Opportunities Policy – Child Protection Policy

Code of Conduct

Social Media CIC supports the NUJ Code of Conduct and expects the following principles to be upheld by all journalists or volunteers undertaking journalism for us, including photo-journalism.

A journalist:

1. At all times upholds and defends the principle of media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed

2. Strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair

3. Does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies

4. Differentiates between fact and opinion

5. Obtains material by honest, straightforward and open means, with the exception of investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means

6. Does nothing to intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest

7. Protects the identity of sources who supply information in confidence and material gathered in the course of her/his work

8. Resists, threats or any other inducements to influence, distort or suppress information

9. Takes no unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of her/his duties before the information is public knowledge

10. Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation

11. Does not by way of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial product or service save for the promotion of her/his own work or of the medium by which she/he is employed

12. Avoids plagiarism.

Social Media CIC supports the NUJ, believing a journalist has the right to refuse an assignment or be identified as the author of editorial that would break the letter or spirit of the code. The NUJ will fully support any journalist disciplined for asserting her/his right to act according to the code.

Equal Opportunities Policy
Social Media Community Interest Company

We take every care to treat each individual as a person in their own right, whether they are an adult or child, volunteer or reader. We recognise that everyone has a personal responsibility for the positive application of equal opportunities. Equality of opportunity is fundamentally about fairness and respect. It achieved by ensuring that discriminatory behaviour, in any form, is not tolerated.
We are totally committed to the principle of equal opportunities and to creating a working environment in which you are treated with dignity and respect, which is free from unlawful discrimination, victimization or harassment on the grounds of:
• colour, race, nationality or ethnic origin;
• sex, marital status or gender reassignment;
• disability of any kind;
• religion;
• sexual orientation;
• age; and
• trade union or political activities, as long as those activities do not conflict with the principles listed above.

Our commitment applies to all aspects of our organisation including:
• recruitment and the advertisement of jobs/volunteering opportunities;
• terms and conditions of employment;
• training, personal development and progression;
• grievance and disciplinary procedures; and
• relationships between members of staff and volunteers.

We take this policy very seriously. A breach of this policy is considered to be gross misconduct and disciplinary action, including dismissal/exclusion for serious offences, will be taken against people who do not comply with it. Any volunteer found to be breaching this policy will not be invited to work with us again.
Should any person fell that this policy is not being fully implemented, they should immediately contact: Managing Editor Clare-Marie White
Date policy last updated: 10 March 2008
This policy is fully supported by the Social Media CIC Project Management Committee and will be reviewed as necessary.

Child Protection Policy
Social Media CIC

This policy relates to all young persons under the age of 18.

Our child protection policy and practices are in progress as we develop as a company.

Our current practices ensure that:
Staff or volunteers are never alone with under-18s during their work.
Photography of children and young people always takes place in public places and the responsible adult with the child is asked for permission before any photography takes place (except in crowd settings).
Nominated reporters or volunteers enter schools by invitation only and we expect the school to have asked parents for permission to appear in the media while under the care of the school – if such permission has not been granted we would ask the school to keep the child out of photo opportunities unless in the case of a clearly public meeting.
Work experience placements with under-18s are undertaken with an umbrella organisation who can provide premises, insurance and additional protection to children under our care.
Children are welcome to contribute to our projects and have the same right to express themselves within it as everyone else. However, we ask that children work remotely under the care of parents or carers unless we have made a formal work experience agreement. We will never ask for under-18s to undertake any activity for us without the full knowledge and consent of their parents or carers.

We intend to:
Register as an organisation for CRB checks before project work with children is undertaken.
Undertake CRB checks for all volunteers and freelancers that may be working with children in the course of their work with Social Media CIC and renew their checks every three years.
Provide our own insurance and full child protection policies/training as soon as we have premises to host under-18 work experience students
Develop our capacity for providing a child protection policy according to an model acceptable to the voluntary service sector and the Community Interest Company regulator.

Should any person fell that this policy is not being fully implemented or have any concerns, they should immediately contact:
Managing Editor: Clare-Marie White
Date policy updated: 10 May 2008
This policy is fully supported by the Social Media CIC Project Management Committee and will be reviewed as necessary.