Pulse Nigeria Editorial Policies and Guidance
At Pulse Nigeria, we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity, independence, and professionalism.
Our Editorial Policy embodies our unwavering commitment to ethical journalism, integrity, and professionalism. It serves as a guiding framework for our editorial team, ensuring that our content reflects the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and trustworthiness expected of Pulse Nigeria.
The benchmark for our journalistic practices is set by these editorial standards and compliance with these standards is mandatory for all editorial staff.
Policy Details
Accuracy, impartiality and diversity of perspectives
Pulse Nigeria ensures that its journalism is not only accurate but also fair and comprehensive, thereby upholding the trust placed in us by our readers and maintaining our reputation as a reliable news source.
Accuracy
Accuracy refers to the exactness and reliability of information presented in our news stories, ensuring that all facts are correct, sources are reliable, and the context and presentation are truthful and clear.
At Pulse Nigeria, all stories go through a rigorous editorial process to review for factual accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards before publication.
Although editorialising and campaigning are allowed, they must differentiate between editorial opinions and reviews, featured content, general conjecture, and factual reporting.
Stories should provide all necessary context to avoid misleading the audience.
Impartiality
At Pulse Nigeria, our commitment to impartiality is fundamental to maintaining the trust and respect of our audience. We deliver content that is fair, balanced, and free from bias. This involves providing a diversity of viewpoints without favouring one perspective over another.
Pulse Nigeria journalists must strive to present all relevant facts and significant perspectives in any story. In reporting on controversy or conflict, all sides of the issue must be presented fairly, giving due weight to each viewpoint.
Diversity of perspectives
Pulse Nigeria values diversity and embraces an inclusive philosophy to promote equal opportunity both internally and externally.
Our content should reflect a wide range of views and not disproportionately represent one demographic, ideology, or interest group.
- Expectations for Journalists: Significant facts or viewpoints should not be omitted if their exclusion would distort the story. Editorial decisions, from story selection to source inclusion, should also not be influenced by political affiliations or commercial interests.
- Risk of Non-Compliance: Neglecting to uphold accuracy, impartiality and diversity of perspectives standards risks reducing the comprehensiveness and relevance of Pulse Nigeria's reporting, potentially leading to a loss of audience trust and engagement.
Sources and verification
Pulse Nigeria journalists will rely on reputable sources. The reliability of each source must be assessed, and undisclosed sources must be avoided, unless necessary for the protection of the source, and where the information is deemed essential for the public interest.
Pulse Nigeria journalists must not use content from unauthorised third-party sources, including images, text, or other media, without the requisite permissions and credit. Further, content adapted, combined, or translated from multiple third-party publications is curated by Pulse Nigeria and considered fair use.
In engaging with sources, the anonymity of sources or subjects who request privacy will be strictly maintained, barring legal or ethical obligations to disclose identity.
Our stories undergo a rigorous multilevel review process that includes fact-checking.
- Expectations for Journalists: The editorial control of the content remains with the individual authors, not dictated by Pulse Nigeria or its affiliates. Pulse Nigeria simply provides the platform and channels for these contributions. It is therefore crucial that the exercise of editorial discretion is done within the confines of ethical and legal standards.
- Risk of Non-Compliance: Sourcing and verification standards safeguard against the dissemination of misinformation which can diminish the trust of our audience, and lead to legal liability, litigation, financial settlements, reputational damage, and loss of audience among other things.
Fair and honest dealings
In the process of news gathering, Pulse Nigeria journalists and content producers must always represent their profession and identity accurately and transparently.
Furthermore, it is imperative that stories are gathered without resorting to manipulation or any form of deception.
Pulse Nigeria strictly prohibits the use of improper or illegal journalistic methods to obtain information.
- Expectations for Journalists: Our journalism should always uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in soliciting or gathering information.
- Risk of Non-compliance: Using inappropriate means to obtain information can lead to ethical breaches, legal challenges, and a loss of credibility and trust among our audience and peers.
Right to reply
We uphold the principle of the right of reply, ensuring that individuals or entities involved in our stories have the opportunity to respond to information and accusations made about them before publication.
Pulse Nigeria journalists will provide a reasonable timeframe for responses, typically at least 24 hours, depending on the urgency and complexity of the story. The deadline for such responses will be clearly communicated to the parties involved.
If a response is provided within the designated time frame, Pulse Nigeria will include this in the published content in a fair and balanced manner, ensuring that the reply is not misrepresented or edited in a way that changes the meaning thereof.
In cases where no response is received, the article will note that the subject was contacted but did not provide a comment.
In situations where the news is of significant public interest and urgency dictates a shorter response time, the deadline may be adjusted accordingly. However, efforts to contact the subject and obtain a reply must still be documented.
If a response is received after the initial publication, Pulse Nigeria may update the original story or publish a follow-up piece to include the new information, maintaining the context and continuity of the reporting.
Respecting privacy
At Pulse Nigeria, we recognise that privacy is a fundamental human right and an essential aspect of human dignity.
Information that is private will only be included in our stories if there is a compelling public interest to do so.
We will avoid the gratuitous publication of private details that do not contribute to the public's understanding of the story but may harm the dignity or privacy of the individuals involved.
- Expectations for Journalists: When reporting on private individuals, especially those who are not public figures, explicit consent will be obtained before identifying details are published. If consent cannot be obtained, we will consider anonymising the information.
- Risk of Non-compliance: Failing to respect privacy can lead to legal repercussions, damage to our reputation, and a loss of trust from both the public and those who share their stories with Pulse Nigeria.
Gifting or financial offers
Pulse Nigeria is committed to operating in an ethical manner and in compliance with laws and regulations.
We strictly prohibit the direct or indirect promising, offering, giving or accepting of bribes or improper inducements including facilitation payments, to secure business or to gain any advantage either for the Company or for any individual.
Our standards include:-
- Keeping accurate books and records at all times and monitoring that funds are not being used for bribery or facilitation payments.
- We do not accept gifts, meals, travel, and entertainment as a quid pro quo, bribe, or to otherwise improperly influence, induce, or reward editorial decisions.
- Our writers are required to refuse any offer or request for an unlawful payment and report the incident through structures provided by Pulse Nigeria.
- The Pulse Nigeria Global Gifts and Hospitality Policy contains detailed guidance for offering, promising, giving, receiving and disclosing gifts and/or entertainment.
Data protection
Pulse Nigeria editorial offices undertake to respect privacy and to deal responsibly with information, opinions, images, and other intellectual property.
Pulse Nigeria has implemented reasonable and appropriate measures designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information that it collects, stores, processes and transmits in accordance with the applicable information security standards, frameworks, best practices and the appropriate data privacy and protection laws and regulations.
- Expectations for Journalists: Our customers, Agents and stakeholders expect that we will handle the information, including any personal data, that they share with us appropriately and in accordance with the law.
- Risk of Non-Compliance: Non-compliance with data protection standards can result in legal penalties, loss of audience trust, and significant harm to the security and privacy of individuals' information.
Community Guidelines
We foster a respectful and inclusive online community by enforcing clear and consistent community guidelines for user engagement and participation.
Our moderation policies prioritise constructive dialogue and respectful discourse while maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all users.
- Expectations for Journalists: Journalists must enforce community guidelines for respectful and constructive engagement.
- Risks of Non-Compliance: Failure to enforce community guidelines can lead to toxic online environments, loss of audience engagement, and reputational harm.
Commercial Content, Advertising & Sponsorship:
We maintain a clear separation between editorial content and commercial activities, ensuring that advertising or sponsorship does not influence our editorial decisions or compromise our journalistic integrity.
Our journalists uphold ethical standards and editorial independence in their interactions with advertisers and sponsors.
- Expectations for Journalists: Journalists must maintain editorial independence and integrity, avoiding influence from advertisers or sponsors in their editorial decision-making.
- Risks of Non-Compliance: Allowing commercial interests to influence editorial decisions can damage credibility, trust, and audience perception of bias.
Corrections & Clarifications
We are committed to transparency and accountability in our reporting, promptly correcting any errors or inaccuracies identified in our content.
Our corrections and clarifications are prominently displayed and clearly communicated to our audience to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness.
- Expectations for Journalists: Journalists must promptly correct errors or inaccuracies and communicate them transparently.
- Risks of Non-Compliance: Failure to correct errors can erode trust, credibility, and audience confidence in the accuracy of reporting.
Complaint Handling
We provide accessible channels for submitting complaints about our content and take all complaints seriously, investigating and addressing them in a timely and transparent manner.
Our commitment to addressing audience feedback and concerns reflects our dedication to maintaining the trust and credibility of our brand.
- Expectations for Journalists: Journalists must provide accessible channels for submitting complaints and address them transparently.
- Risks of Non-Compliance: Ignoring or mishandling complaints can lead to public backlash, reputational damage, and loss of audience trust.
Conflicts of Interest
Our journalists are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in their reporting, ensuring transparency and accountability in their professional conduct.
We take proactive measures to mitigate conflicts of interest and uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality in our journalism.
- Expectations for Journalists: Journalists must disclose potential conflicts of interest and mitigate their impact on reporting. Additionally, proactive steps must be taken to avoid potential conflict of interest situations before they even arise.
- Risks of Non-Compliance: Failing to disclose conflicts of interest can lead to accusations of bias, damage credibility, and undermine trust with the audience.
Social Media
We engage responsibly and professionally on social media platforms, adhering to our editorial standards and guidelines for social media use.
Our journalists represent Pulse Nigeria with integrity and credibility in their social media interactions, avoiding behaviours that may undermine the reputation or credibility of our brand.
- Expectations for Journalists: Journalists who are invariably our brand ambassadors must always engage responsibly and professionally on social media, representing Pulse Nigeria with integrity.
- Risks of Non-Compliance: Inappropriate behaviour on social media can damage the brand's reputation, credibility, and trust with the audience.
Generative AI
We are transparent about the use of generative AI or digital enhancement in our reporting, ensuring that any AI-generated content is clearly labelled and does not compromise the accuracy or integrity of our journalism.
Our journalists uphold ethical standards and editorial integrity in the use of AI technologies, maintaining the trust and credibility of our reporting.
- Expectations for Journalists: Journalists must transparently disclose the use of AI technologies and ensure ethical use in reporting. When articles are generated purely using AI, the author must include a note to indicate this clearly. However, an editorial disclosure might not be necessary if the author did the journalistic work and only used AI as an editing tool.
- Risks of Non-Compliance: Misuse of AI technologies can result in the dissemination of misleading or false information, damaging credibility and trust with the audience.
Conclusion
This Editorial Policy embodies our unwavering commitment to ethical journalism, integrity, and professionalism. It serves as a guiding framework for our editorial team, ensuring that our content reflects the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and trustworthiness expected of Pulse Nigeria.