THE CHARLES LUCKERT CODE OF JOURNALISM ETHICS

Charles Luckert was my friend. We had many discussions about the future of Grand Prairie and the need for a community newspaper. We met after he started the Grand Prairie at a Glance Facebook Groups and became close after I started the Faces of Grand Prairie. He always loved the podcast and thought it was very important to the future of the city. He told me many times I should grow it into a newspaper and I wish he was still around to see it today. I am glad I was able to have him on as a guest, I begged him for months and he would always say "I'm not interesting, no one cares what I would say!" I finally got him to agree when I asked his friend Terry Brooks to join. I'll link his interview to the bottom of this page. 

After he passed, I have spoken to many Grand Prairians about my desire to fulfill that dream of a Grand Prairie newspaper, and I can't tell you how many people tell me "I wish we still had Charles, I loved how he just reported the news and not slant it, and how he wouldn't allow any of the other negative division with comments." His presence is missed in our city and as I thought about how the Faces of Grand Prairie Podcast and Newspaper would operate, I kept coming back to Charles. That's why I'm naming our Code of Journalism Ethics after him and modeling them after his honesty, integrity and devotion to the community of Grand Prairie. 

CODE OF ETHICS

1. SEEK TRUTH AND REPORT IT. 

We will strive for accuracy and fairness, avoiding distortion and seeking out comments from subjects to respond to allegations. 

We will identify sources by name whenever feasible, ensuring the citizens of Grand Prairie have as much information as possible to judge source reliability. 

Ensure headlines, thumbnails of videos, and other presentation formats do not misrepresent or have misleading titles.

We will not distort photos, images, or edit videos in a way to mislead the public. 

2. MINIMIZE HARM

We have respect for the dignity of our fellow Grand Prairians and will treat all sources, subjects and members of the public with respect. 

We will show sensitivity to vulnerable individuals and will exercise hightened sensitivity when dealing with juveniles, victims, and those who lack the capacity to give consent. 

We recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm and we are committed to balancing the public's right to know with potential discomfort. 

3. ACT INDEPENDENTLY

We will remain free from outside influence, including advertisers. 

We will avoid conflicts of interest when possible, and disclose unavoidable conflicts of interest. 

We will resist pressure from advertisers, elected officials and special interests to influence news coverage. 

4. BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT

We will take responsibility for one's work and explain our decisions to the public. 

We will take ownership of errors by disclosing them, correct them promptly, and give the corrections as much prominence as the error itself. 

We will be transparent in sources used and the reasons for granting anonymity. 

5. SHOW GOOD TASTE AND HAVE DECORUM

We will avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. 

We will seek out positive news within the city of Grand Prairie as often as possible, seeking to inform and create peace whenever possible, even in times of inevitable difficult news cycles. 

We recognize that local news has the potential to be used to influence others for personal agendas and can unintentionally or intentionally shape public and political opinion. We will be sensitive to this at all times in our reporting, understanding the tremendous privilege, honor and responsibility of practicing honest and ethical local journalism. 

We have also been greatly influenced by the Rotary Four Way test, a set of four ethical questions used to evaluate actions and decisions. 

1. Is it the truth? 

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?