Media Outlet Hazara Express News Date of first publication 28/03/2025 Date of Latest Change 29/03/2025
9. Accountability for Journalism Principles
9.1. Editorial Guidelines
A Media Outlet shall produce a set of Editorial Guidelines or adhere to an external set of guidelines (for example the Model Editorial Guidelines provided as a reference document to this Standard), to which its journalistic operations comply. They should govern meaningful principles of journalistic content, dissemination and conduct. These guidelines, and the identity of the person or group of persons with ultimate responsibility for them within its organisation, shall be made available to the public in a readily accessible and understandable form. Best practice is to have these guidelines available publicly rather than on request.
Does your Media Outlet have a set of guidelines, or adhere to an external set of guidelines, for journalistic content, distribution and conduct to which its journalistic operations comply?
YesAre they made available to the public in a readily accessible form?
YesWhat is the URL?
https://hazaraexpressnews.org/%d8%a7%db%8c%da%88%db%8c%d9%b9%d8%b1%d8%b2-%da%a9%db%92-%d9%84%d9%b8%db%8c%db%92-%d8%b6%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%b7%db%81-%d8%a7%d8%ae%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%82/
Is there a person or a group of persons responsible for these guidelines clearly identified?
YesIs that identification visible on the page with the guidelines?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Yes, the identification of Sher Afzal as the Editor-in-Chief responsible for the guidelines is visible on the page with the guidelines on the Hazara Express News website. This provides transparency and accountability for their journalistic standards.
9.2. Purpose of Guidelines
A Media Outlet shall ensure that these Editorial Guidelines set clear expectations of the behaviour it requires from its own staff, its contractors and from all other contributors to its editorial content. It should also set out the structure of responsibility within the organisation, making sure it is clear who is accountable for each stage of the process that leads to publication.
Do the guidelines referred to in the section on Editorial Guidelines set clear expectations for the behaviour for all the contributors, including editorial staff (journalists, editors) and all other contributors?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
The Editors' Code of Conduct on the Hazara Express News website outlines ethical standards for editors, aligning with the UK's Press Complaints Commission/Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) guidelines.
Do the guidelines referred to in the section on Editorial Guidelines make clear the structure of editorial responsibility for each stage of the publication process within the organisation?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Yes, the Editorial Guidelines on the Hazara Express News website clearly outline the structure of editorial responsibility for each stage of the publication process within the organization. This ensures accountability and clarity regarding the roles and duties of editors etc.
9.3. Guidelines and Journalism Principles
A Media Outlet shall ensure that these Editorial Guidelines embody the core ethical principles of journalism. The Editorial Guidelines may impose specific requirements in addition to these core ethical principles; but any additional requirements shall not compromise these core ethical principles as described in the Preamble of this document.
Do your Editorial Guidelines include requirements for Accuracy (as prescribed in the Preamble) in your output?
YesWhat is the URL?
https://hazaraexpressnews.org/%d8%a7%db%8c%da%88%db%8c%d9%b9%d8%b1%d8%b2-%da%a9%db%92-%d9%84%d9%b8%db%8c%db%92-%d8%b6%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%b7%db%81-%d8%a7%d8%ae%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%82/
Do they include requirements for Independence (as prescribed in the Preamble) of editorial decision making?
YesWhat is the URL?
https://hazaraexpressnews.org/%d8%a7%db%8c%da%88%db%8c%d9%b9%d8%b1%d8%b2-%da%a9%db%92-%d9%84%d9%b8%db%8c%db%92-%d8%b6%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%b7%db%81-%d8%a7%d8%ae%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%82/
Do they include requirements of Fairness (as prescribed in the Preamble) in the practice of journalism?
YesWhat is the URL?
https://hazaraexpressnews.org/%d8%a7%db%8c%da%88%db%8c%d9%b9%d8%b1%d8%b2-%da%a9%db%92-%d9%84%d9%b8%db%8c%db%92-%d8%b6%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%b7%db%81-%d8%a7%d8%ae%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%82/
Do they include requirements for Accountability (as prescribed in the Preamble) in the practice of its journalism?
YesWhat is the URL?
https://hazaraexpressnews.org/%d8%a7%db%8c%da%88%db%8c%d9%b9%d8%b1%d8%b2-%da%a9%db%92-%d9%84%d9%b8%db%8c%db%92-%d8%b6%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%b7%db%81-%d8%a7%d8%ae%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%82/
9.4. Conflicts of Interest
Editorial Guidelines shall ensure that there are no conflicts of interests – real, potential or perceived – damaging the integrity of the story or the editorial independence of those working on it. They should have guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to political, business and personal interests. Editorial structures should protect the journalism from any undue influence by the Media Outlet’s executive management or ownership authorities outside the formal editorial process and from any external interests, commercial, social or political.
Do your Editorial Guidelines include protections against real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Yes, Hazara Express News’ Editorial Guidelines include protections against real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. These guidelines are designed to ensure that editorial content is produced with integrity, free from external or internal biases, and based on factual and unbiased reporting. Key elements of the protection include:
Clear Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Journalists and editorial staff are required to disclose any personal, financial, or professional interests that could influence their work. This helps to ensure that their decisions are transparent and not affected by outside influences.
Separation of Editorial and Business Interests: There is a clear distinction between editorial content and business interests, ensuring that commercial considerations do not influence news reporting.
Independent Editorial Oversight: The editorial team, particularly the editor-in-chief, is responsible for overseeing the editorial process and ensuring that any potential conflicts of interest are identified and addressed before content is published.
Editorial Integrity and Impartiality: The guidelines stress the importance of impartiality in journalism, requiring that content be balanced and fair, especially in areas where conflicts of interest might arise.
Ongoing Monitoring: The editorial team monitors content regularly to ensure compliance with these guidelines and address any emerging conflicts of interest.
Clear Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Journalists and editorial staff are required to disclose any personal, financial, or professional interests that could influence their work. This helps to ensure that their decisions are transparent and not affected by outside influences.
Separation of Editorial and Business Interests: There is a clear distinction between editorial content and business interests, ensuring that commercial considerations do not influence news reporting.
Independent Editorial Oversight: The editorial team, particularly the editor-in-chief, is responsible for overseeing the editorial process and ensuring that any potential conflicts of interest are identified and addressed before content is published.
Editorial Integrity and Impartiality: The guidelines stress the importance of impartiality in journalism, requiring that content be balanced and fair, especially in areas where conflicts of interest might arise.
Ongoing Monitoring: The editorial team monitors content regularly to ensure compliance with these guidelines and address any emerging conflicts of interest.
Do the guidelines include guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to business?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Yes, the Editorial Guidelines of Hazara Express News include specific guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to business interests. These guidelines ensure that the editorial content remains independent and free from undue influence by business considerations. Key elements of the guidance include:
Separation of Editorial and Business Functions: The guidelines emphasize the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between the editorial and business departments. Editorial decisions should be made based on journalistic integrity, not influenced by commercial or financial interests.
Disclosure of Financial Relationships: If a journalist or editorial staff member has any business or financial relationship with an entity covered in their reporting, it must be disclosed. This helps prevent the perception or reality of conflicts of interest.
No Influence from Advertisers or Sponsors: The guidelines specify that advertisers, sponsors, or business partners should not influence the editorial content. Advertisements and sponsored content must be clearly labeled and distinct from news coverage.
Independent Editorial Oversight: The editor-in-chief, along with the editorial team, is responsible for ensuring that business interests do not interfere with the editorial process. This includes overseeing any potentially conflicting content and ensuring that the editorial team adheres to these principles.
Clear Policies on Sponsored Content: Hazara Express News has specific policies to clearly distinguish between editorial content and sponsored content. Sponsored content must be labeled appropriately to avoid any confusion with regular editorial material.
Separation of Editorial and Business Functions: The guidelines emphasize the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between the editorial and business departments. Editorial decisions should be made based on journalistic integrity, not influenced by commercial or financial interests.
Disclosure of Financial Relationships: If a journalist or editorial staff member has any business or financial relationship with an entity covered in their reporting, it must be disclosed. This helps prevent the perception or reality of conflicts of interest.
No Influence from Advertisers or Sponsors: The guidelines specify that advertisers, sponsors, or business partners should not influence the editorial content. Advertisements and sponsored content must be clearly labeled and distinct from news coverage.
Independent Editorial Oversight: The editor-in-chief, along with the editorial team, is responsible for ensuring that business interests do not interfere with the editorial process. This includes overseeing any potentially conflicting content and ensuring that the editorial team adheres to these principles.
Clear Policies on Sponsored Content: Hazara Express News has specific policies to clearly distinguish between editorial content and sponsored content. Sponsored content must be labeled appropriately to avoid any confusion with regular editorial material.
Do the guidelines include guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to political interests?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Yes, the Editorial Guidelines of Hazara Express News include specific guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to political interests. These guidelines ensure that editorial content remains impartial and free from political influence. The key points of the guidance include:
Impartial Reporting: The guidelines emphasize the need for fairness and impartiality in reporting political issues. Journalists are expected to present all relevant sides of a story, avoiding bias toward any political party, group, or ideology.
Separation of Editorial and Political Influence: Hazara Express News maintains a clear distinction between editorial content and any political affiliations or interests. Editorial staff are not allowed to allow political influence, either from external sources or internal affiliations, to affect their journalistic work.
Disclosure of Political Interests: If any journalist or editorial staff member has a direct or indirect political interest that could influence their reporting, this must be disclosed. This includes financial interests, political ties, or any public stance that could affect their objectivity.
Independent Editorial Oversight: The editorial team, under the direction of the editor-in-chief, ensures that all political reporting is fair and balanced. Any potential political conflicts of interest are addressed promptly to prevent biased reporting.
Transparency in Political Reporting: The guidelines require that when a political figure or party is covered in news stories, the content must be presented clearly and factually, with all relevant viewpoints included. Editorial oversight is in place to ensure accuracy and fairness in all political coverage.
Avoidance of Political Endorsements: The editorial team avoids endorsing or supporting any political party or figure. Political commentary, if present, is clearly distinguished from news reporting and presented as opinion, not fact.
Impartial Reporting: The guidelines emphasize the need for fairness and impartiality in reporting political issues. Journalists are expected to present all relevant sides of a story, avoiding bias toward any political party, group, or ideology.
Separation of Editorial and Political Influence: Hazara Express News maintains a clear distinction between editorial content and any political affiliations or interests. Editorial staff are not allowed to allow political influence, either from external sources or internal affiliations, to affect their journalistic work.
Disclosure of Political Interests: If any journalist or editorial staff member has a direct or indirect political interest that could influence their reporting, this must be disclosed. This includes financial interests, political ties, or any public stance that could affect their objectivity.
Independent Editorial Oversight: The editorial team, under the direction of the editor-in-chief, ensures that all political reporting is fair and balanced. Any potential political conflicts of interest are addressed promptly to prevent biased reporting.
Transparency in Political Reporting: The guidelines require that when a political figure or party is covered in news stories, the content must be presented clearly and factually, with all relevant viewpoints included. Editorial oversight is in place to ensure accuracy and fairness in all political coverage.
Avoidance of Political Endorsements: The editorial team avoids endorsing or supporting any political party or figure. Political commentary, if present, is clearly distinguished from news reporting and presented as opinion, not fact.
Do the guidelines include guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to personal interests?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Yes, the Editorial Guidelines of Hazara Express News include specific guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to personal interests. The guidelines are designed to ensure that personal biases, relationships, or interests do not influence editorial content or the journalistic process. Here are the key elements of the guidance:
Disclosure of Personal Conflicts: Journalists and editorial staff must disclose any personal interests or relationships that could potentially influence their reporting. This includes personal friendships, family ties, financial interests, or any other connection that might compromise objectivity. If a conflict is identified, the individual may be recused from covering certain stories.
Separation of Personal and Professional Interests: The guidelines stress the importance of maintaining a clear separation between personal views or interests and professional journalistic work. Journalists are expected to avoid letting their personal opinions or preferences influence their reporting, especially on controversial or sensitive issues.
Editorial Oversight: The editorial team is responsible for ensuring that any potential personal conflicts are addressed. The editor-in-chief, along with senior editorial staff, plays a key role in reviewing content and ensuring that it is free from personal bias.
Accountability: If a personal conflict of interest is identified, the individual involved is expected to take responsibility and take steps to rectify the situation. This may include revising or reassigning the content or ensuring that the story is reviewed by an independent party within the editorial team.
External Guidance: In cases where there is uncertainty about whether a personal conflict might impact editorial content, editorial staff can seek guidance from senior editorial staff or external professionals, including legal experts, to ensure transparency and fairness.
Avoiding Personal Endorsement: The guidelines ensure that editorial staff avoid personal endorsements or involvement in any activity that could be perceived as promoting a personal agenda through the media outlet.
Disclosure of Personal Conflicts: Journalists and editorial staff must disclose any personal interests or relationships that could potentially influence their reporting. This includes personal friendships, family ties, financial interests, or any other connection that might compromise objectivity. If a conflict is identified, the individual may be recused from covering certain stories.
Separation of Personal and Professional Interests: The guidelines stress the importance of maintaining a clear separation between personal views or interests and professional journalistic work. Journalists are expected to avoid letting their personal opinions or preferences influence their reporting, especially on controversial or sensitive issues.
Editorial Oversight: The editorial team is responsible for ensuring that any potential personal conflicts are addressed. The editor-in-chief, along with senior editorial staff, plays a key role in reviewing content and ensuring that it is free from personal bias.
Accountability: If a personal conflict of interest is identified, the individual involved is expected to take responsibility and take steps to rectify the situation. This may include revising or reassigning the content or ensuring that the story is reviewed by an independent party within the editorial team.
External Guidance: In cases where there is uncertainty about whether a personal conflict might impact editorial content, editorial staff can seek guidance from senior editorial staff or external professionals, including legal experts, to ensure transparency and fairness.
Avoiding Personal Endorsement: The guidelines ensure that editorial staff avoid personal endorsements or involvement in any activity that could be perceived as promoting a personal agenda through the media outlet.
Does the Media Outlet’s structure protect the editorial processes from any undue influence from within or without?
YesIf you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.
Yes, Hazara Express News has established a structure that aims to protect its editorial processes from undue influence both from within and outside the organization. The outlet’s editorial independence is safeguarded by several key practices:
Separation of Editorial and Business Functions: Hazara Express News ensures that its editorial team operates independently from the business side of the organization. This separation helps prevent commercial interests, such as advertisers or sponsors, from influencing editorial content. The editorial team has full control over content decisions without interference from business or commercial departments.
Role of the Editor-in-Chief: The Editor-in-Chief, who is responsible for overseeing the editorial process, has significant authority in maintaining the integrity of editorial decisions. The editor is tasked with ensuring that the editorial content adheres to the guidelines and ethical standards set by the media outlet. The Editor-in-Chief’s position protects editorial decision-making from being influenced by outside parties, whether they be advertisers, political actors, or other stakeholders.
Clear Editorial Guidelines: The editorial guidelines, which include provisions for ensuring accuracy, fairness, and independence, provide a framework within which the editorial staff must operate. These guidelines also include protocols for managing conflicts of interest, ensuring that no individual or external entity can interfere with editorial decisions.
Independent Editorial Oversight: The outlet's editorial processes are subject to regular internal reviews and oversight to ensure compliance with the editorial guidelines. This oversight includes assessing the objectivity and accuracy of content, verifying sources, and ensuring that external influences do not affect editorial decisions.
External Accountability Mechanisms: Hazara Express News is also a member of external networks such as Digimap.pk, providing an additional layer of accountability. These networks help ensure that the media outlet adheres to industry standards and that any concerns regarding editorial independence or content can be addressed through external review.
Advisory Board: The presence of an advisory board provides independent input and guidance on editorial matters. This helps ensure that editorial processes are transparent, accountable, and free from undue internal or external influence.
Separation of Editorial and Business Functions: Hazara Express News ensures that its editorial team operates independently from the business side of the organization. This separation helps prevent commercial interests, such as advertisers or sponsors, from influencing editorial content. The editorial team has full control over content decisions without interference from business or commercial departments.
Role of the Editor-in-Chief: The Editor-in-Chief, who is responsible for overseeing the editorial process, has significant authority in maintaining the integrity of editorial decisions. The editor is tasked with ensuring that the editorial content adheres to the guidelines and ethical standards set by the media outlet. The Editor-in-Chief’s position protects editorial decision-making from being influenced by outside parties, whether they be advertisers, political actors, or other stakeholders.
Clear Editorial Guidelines: The editorial guidelines, which include provisions for ensuring accuracy, fairness, and independence, provide a framework within which the editorial staff must operate. These guidelines also include protocols for managing conflicts of interest, ensuring that no individual or external entity can interfere with editorial decisions.
Independent Editorial Oversight: The outlet's editorial processes are subject to regular internal reviews and oversight to ensure compliance with the editorial guidelines. This oversight includes assessing the objectivity and accuracy of content, verifying sources, and ensuring that external influences do not affect editorial decisions.
External Accountability Mechanisms: Hazara Express News is also a member of external networks such as Digimap.pk, providing an additional layer of accountability. These networks help ensure that the media outlet adheres to industry standards and that any concerns regarding editorial independence or content can be addressed through external review.
Advisory Board: The presence of an advisory board provides independent input and guidance on editorial matters. This helps ensure that editorial processes are transparent, accountable, and free from undue internal or external influence.