The ethics of unpublishing

TORONTO, Nov. 15 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists is pleased to release a discussion paper that presents best practices on the question of 'unpublishing' articles posted by media online.

"The consensus here is that once something is published, it should be left as is - so long as it is accurate," CAJ ethics advisory committee chair Ivor Shapiro said of the report's recommended best practices. "Inaccuracies are another matter: they should be corrected or amended in a way that's transparent, and as soon as possible."

The question was referred to the ethics advisory committee after several high-profile examples where media published an article online and then pulled the article after complaints were received.

The paper presents best practices media should take into consideration when they receive a request to either correct items published online or retract them. In summary:

1. We are in the publishing business and generally should not unpublish
2. Ongoing accuracy is our responsibility
3. Put a clear policy in place
4. Unpublish for the right reasons
5. It's fair to be human
6. Source remorse is not a right reason to unpublish
7. Unpublish by consensus
8. Explain your unpublishing policy
9. Help sources understand the implications of digital publishing
10. Consider the implications of publishing before publication

The discussion paper was submitted to the CAJ board in October by the ethics advisory committee and was written by Toronto Star public editor Kathy English, University of King's College associate professor of journalism Tim Currie and Terrace Standard (B.C.) editor and publisher Rod Link. It has been posted today at www.caj.ca and in the ethics section of J-source.ca - The Canadian Journalism Project.

"These best practices add to a similar discussion paper released earlier this year by the ethics advisory committee on journalists' use of social media such as Twitter," CAJ president Mary Agnes Welch said. "It's our hope they can be useful to journalists and newsrooms when a request comes in to redact or unpublish online content."

The CAJ ethics advisory committee was formed to advise the CAJ board and its membership on ethical questions journalists may face in their careers. Its 18 members review questions referred by the CAJ board or that come to the attention of committee members. This is the fifth report submitted by the committee to the CAJ board.

The CAJ is Canada's largest national professional organization for journalists from all media, representing about 800 members across the country. The CAJ's primary roles are to provide high-quality professional development for its members and public-interest advocacy.

For further information:

Full discussion paper online - under "ethics committee" at www.caj.ca and under "ethics" at www.j-source.ca.
Mary Agnes Welch, CAJ president [phone], cell [phone]
Ivor Shapiro, chair, CAJ ethics advisory committee [phone] ext. 7195