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Overall Score
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Corrections
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Ownership
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Staff Policies
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Reporting Policies
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Interactivity
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3.8
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| Ranking: Excellent. |
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Corrections and clarifications can be easily found directly on The Guardian’s homepage at the top left of the page under the “Latest” heading. It is important to note that according to its Web site, The Guardian became the first national newspaper in Britain to appoint a “readers’ editor,” who puts together the daily corrections and clarifications column. |
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Pretty easy to find by scrolling to the bottom of The Guardian’s homepage and clicking on “About this site,” and then clicking on the link titled “Welcome to The Guardian.” There it states John Edward Taylor founded the paper in 1821. In June 1936, former owner JR Scott passed on the ownership to the trustees of the Scott Trust, who continue to own the paper today. |
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A discussion of the paper’s conflict of interest policy takes a little bit of searching. Again, clicking on the “About this site” link at the bottom of the homepage, there is a link entitled “The Guardian’s Editorial Code.” Clicking on the PDF link at the top of the page the full ethics code is available, including the paper’s stance on conflicts of interest (page 5). It states: “Staff should be transparent about any outside personal, philosophical or financial interests which might conflict with their professional performance of duties at The Guardian, or could be perceived to do so.” Furthermore, The Guardian gives five guidelines in its ethic code for declaration of interest. At the top of the list: “It is always necessary to declare an interest when the journalist is writing about something with which he or she has a significant connection. This applies to both staff journalists and freelancers writing for The Guardian.” |
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As stated above, The Guardian’s Editorial Code can be found by first scrolling to the bottom of the homepage and clicking on “About this site.” Then click on the link entitled “The Guardian’s Editorial Code.” Available there is a summary and if you click on the pdf link, you can read the 15-page set of guidelines. |
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In its editorial code, The Guardian lists the following standards concerning news values:
- We should be honest about our sources, even if we can’t name them
- The voice of opponents no less than of friends has a right to be heard. It is well be to be frank; it is even better to be fair
- Direct quotations should not be changed to alter their context or meaning
- It is the policy of The Guardian to correct significant errors as soon as possible
- People should be treated with sensitivity during periods of grief and trauma
- Respect for the reader demands that we should not casually use words that are likely to offend
- Sources promised confidentiality must be protected at all costs.
The Guardian posts letters to the editor on its Web site under the corrections and clarifications link. The Guardian also has a blog titled “Comment is free.” Readers can post their comments directly under the blog. Readers also have access to e-mail comments at the end of each story. The Guardian’s Web site supplies an e-mail address for comments at the end of each story. |
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(Lauren Scott)
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About The Guardian
Circulation/Audience • 1,231,000 (2006)
Online Access • No log-in needed.
Parent Company • The Guardian Media Group PLC http://www.gmgplc.co.uk/
Other Relevant Ownership and Interests • Multiple papers, radio, and television stations in the UK http://www.gmgplc.co.uk/gmgplc/aboutus/faqs/
Parent Company Revenue • £700.3 million
