Editorial policy
Independence and responsibility are keystones of Seesaw Magazine’s editorial policy.
Seesaw conducts its journalism in accordance with the general principles of the Australian Press Council and the MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics.
Respect for truth and the public’s right to information are fundamental principles of journalism and the basis of Seesaw’s editorial practice. Journalists search, disclose, record, question, entertain, comment and remember. They inform citizens and animate democracy. They scrutinise power, but also exercise it, and should be responsible and accountable.
Seesaw is committed to honesty, fairness, independence and respect for the rights of others. Our editorial policy serves our purpose to advance culture in Western Australia. We do this through an online media platform that is editorially independent of the WA arts sector and which documents, critiques and champions the arts, for the benefit of the Western Australian community.
Our values are outlined below:
- We will be an independent and trusted voice in the media.
- We will seek innovative and inclusive ways of working together.
- We will reflect and represent the diversity of Western Australian society.
- We will engage in collaborative partnerships with integrity and respect.
The full Editorial Policy and Code of Ethics including Complaints Process can be downloaded here:
The General Principles
Accuracy and clarity
- Ensure that factual material in news reports and elsewhere is accurate and not misleading, and is distinguishable from other material such as opinion.
- Provide a correction or other adequate remedial action if published material is significantly inaccurate or misleading.
Fairness and balance
- Ensure that factual material is presented with reasonable fairness and balance, and that writers’ expressions of opinion are not based on significantly inaccurate factual material or omission of key facts.
- Ensure that where material refers adversely to a person, a fair opportunity is given for subsequent publication of a reply if that is reasonably necessary to address a possible breach of General Principle 3.
Privacy and avoidance of harm
- Avoid intruding on a person’s reasonable expectations of privacy, unless doing so is sufficiently in the public interest.
- Avoid causing or contributing materially to substantial offence, distress or prejudice, or a substantial risk to health or safety, unless doing so is sufficiently in the public interest.
Integrity and transparency
- Avoid publishing material which has been gathered by deceptive or unfair means, unless doing so is sufficiently in the public interest. Ensure that conflicts of interests are avoided or adequately disclosed, and that they do not influence published material.