Ethics/Conduct at The Sunrise State

Introduction

The Sunrise State is dedicated to journalism that pursues truth through honest, fair, and objective reporting, free from partisan bias or influence by special interest groups. Our guiding principle is to foster open, inclusive dialogue, rooted in our mission to build truth in the tempest. Based in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, we aim to be a trusted source of news and opinion, reflecting the diverse voices of India’s East Coast and beyond.

We commit to producing content that upholds integrity, encourages public discourse, and sets a standard for transparency and quality. We value the trust our readers place in us and strive to deliver news and opinions from Amaravati, India, and the world with clarity and accountability. This Code of Ethics outlines the standards expected of all employees to maintain our credibility and reputation.

Code of Ethics

This Code of Ethics governs the professional, personal, online, and public conduct of every employee of The Sunrise State. Our reputation depends on the actions of each team member. All employees, including editorial and non-editorial staff, must acknowledge and adhere to this code, signing it as a binding commitment. Non-editorial staff are expected to avoid actions that conflict with its principles.

All content published under The Sunrise State banner—whether by employees, contributors, or guests—must meet rigorous standards of accuracy, fairness, and professionalism outlined in this code. This document will be regularly reviewed and updated to adapt to the evolving media landscape and ensure relevance in news production and consumption.

Conflict of Interest

The credibility of The Sunrise State hinges on avoiding conflicts of interest or their appearance. Employees must maintain independence from the subjects they cover.

• Employees may not sign public petitions unless The Sunrise State officially supports the cause.
• Donations to political parties or advocacy groups are prohibited.
• Connections with government, businesses, or organizations that could compromise impartiality must be disclosed to supervisors. Part-time or unpaid roles that may affect independence are not permitted.
• Employees must avoid active participation in partisan activities, such as political campaigns, protests, or advocacy, that could undermine fair reporting. Any affiliations or memberships that risk conflict must be reported to editors. When attending events related to causes we cover, employees must identify as Sunrise State representatives and remain observers, not participants.

External Engagements

Employees work exclusively for The Sunrise State unless otherwise approved by supervisors.

• Freelance work for other publications or platforms requires prior approval from editors. Approved articles must identify the author as a Sunrise State employee. Writing under pseudonyms is not allowed.
• Speaking engagements, whether paid or unpaid, at conferences or seminars must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief.
• Employees may not serve on boards of for-profit or non-profit organizations without supervisory consent, to avoid conflicts of interest.

Advertisers

The Sunrise State ensures that advertisers and marketing interests do not influence editorial content.

• Advertisements will be clearly labeled and visually distinct from news and opinion content.
• Sponsored content will be explicitly marked as such, maintaining transparency with readers.

Conduct

Employees must uphold professional conduct to preserve The Sunrise State’s integrity.

• Expensive or inappropriate gifts from sources or subjects we cover are not permitted. Employees must report such offers to the Editor-in-Chief immediately.
• Favors, hospitality, or free invitations to ticketed events must be declined, except when covering the event or seated in a press area. Invitations to meals may be accepted in limited cases.
• Materials provided for work (e.g., books, gadgets) belong to The Sunrise State and may not be resold.
• Press credentials must not be used to evade legal consequences or gain commercial discounts unavailable to the public.
• Employees must avoid preferential treatment due to their media role and ensure private behavior does not discredit The Sunrise State or journalism.

Financial Disclosures

To maintain transparency, employees must disclose financial interests that could affect their work.

• Employees may not trade stocks or derivatives based on unpublished information obtained through The Sunrise State. Shareholdings (including those of immediate family) must be disclosed every six months to supervisors in a sealed envelope and held for at least one year.
• Employees covering business or finance must report their investments to the Editor-in-Chief to avoid conflicts.
• Any sponsorship related to editorial content will be disclosed publicly.

Attribution

The Sunrise State values transparency in sourcing.

• Sources should be identified whenever possible. If anonymity is required, a description (e.g., position, organization) and reason for anonymity must be provided.
• Anonymous source identities will not be shared outside The Sunrise State.
• Pseudonyms are prohibited; employees must disclose their identity and motives when reporting.
• Public social media posts (e.g., tweets) may be quoted, but private posts (e.g., on Facebook) require consent or editorial approval in exceptional cases.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is unacceptable. All content from external sources, including text, quotes, or images, must be properly attributed.

• Images must not be digitally altered without clear disclosure.
• Failure to attribute content is considered plagiarism and violates this code.

External Links

Employees must avoid affiliations that compromise independence.

• Membership in political parties or advocacy groups requires prior approval from the Editor-in-Chief.
• Award competition entries must be approved by the Editor, with any potential conflicts disclosed.
• Sponsored travel arranged by external organizations must be cleared by the Editor, with a disclosure in resulting coverage.

CopyrightContent created for The Sunrise State, including articles, interviews, videos, or social media engagements, is the property of the organization.

• Employees intending to use such content for personal projects (e.g., books, articles) must obtain permission from the Editor-in-Chief.

Sting Operations

The Sunrise State prohibits deceptive practices in reporting.

• Employees must not misrepresent their identity or hide their affiliation to obtain information.
• Blackmailing, threatening, or promising favorable coverage for information is strictly forbidden.

Discrimination

The Sunrise State is committed to respectful and inclusive content.

• Offensive language or profanities will only be used if essential to the story and approved by the Editor-in-Chief.
• Content must avoid biased or offensive references to religion, caste, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability unless directly relevant and approved by editors.

Errors

The Sunrise State strives to minimize errors and correct them promptly.

• Readers who report errors will be treated respectfully, and their contributions acknowledged.
• Corrections will include a note acknowledging the error in previous versions, with an apology if warranted.
• Factually inaccurate or unfair content will be addressed transparently.

Fairness & Balance

Our journalists aim to produce content free from bias or prejudice.

• Individuals or entities mentioned adversely in reports will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond.
• Stories will reflect diverse perspectives to ensure balanced reporting.