Fertility Road Media Policy
Fertility Road is the website published by Mack Publishing ltd. The opinions expressed online are not necessarily those of the Mack Publishing Ltd. Fertility Road editors do not censor Fertility Road or conduct prior review ofdigital content. The role of the editor for Fertility Road is to guide contributors as they learn professional practices. The editor does not censor content or conduct prior review. Editors, reporters and managers of Fertility Road may not be arbitrarily suspended or removed because of contributor or administrative disapproval of editorial content or policy. Contributors at Fertility Road are required to comply with the publication’s Ethics & Guidelines policies, posted on the publication’s website. Failure to do so may result in suspension or dismissal from the staff.
Fertility Road Ethics Policy
Fertility Road serves as the voice for the fertility community. The website holds independence, fairness, accuracy, honesty and transparency as core values. The website’s first obligation is to report unbiased information on topics of interest to the fertility community.
Independence
Certain conflicts of interest may violate the contributors or editor’s ability to be fair. Contributors should not cover stories in which close friends or family members are involved. For example, if a contributors best friend wins an award for a short story, the contributors should not be covering the story. However, the contributors can pitch coverage of the event to the appropriate editor. Contributors should inform editors of any conflicts of interest before taking a story. Editors should inform the editors-in-chief before assigning stories which may pose conflict-of-interest questions.
Gifts
Contributors and editors should not accept gifts from the people they cover. Contributors should pay for tickets to entertainment events, such as a films or sports games. Contributors reviewing movies or concerts may apply for press credentials, but they may not accept free passes. Fertility Road critics are reimbursed for meals, tickets and entry fees at the restaurants and events they cover.
Plagiarism and Fabrication
Journalists plagiarize when they use verbatim material without crediting sources. Cutting and pasting material found online without attributing the source is plagiarism. Publishing false information, i.e., making up quotations or other facts, is fabrication. Plagiarism and fabrication are firing offenses.
Fact Checking
We highly value our readers and believe journalism is a key pillar of checks and balances in any functioning society. As such, we are committed to being accurate, clear, and precise with the content published on our platform, including any content that appears in our articles, our social media posts, our URLs, and our headlines. Our team members understand that their stories – including each word they write and statement they report on – can have significant impact and as such they must act responsibly with the power and influence they have.
The Fertility Road team is required to verify all information they gather for an article by going through multiple steps. These steps include cross-checking any identifiable information (names, identities, locations), eye-witness statements, and any other statements or accounts made in relation to a story. Each team member conducts their own fact-checking in relation to the above, guided by internal policies and the Ethics Policy.
When it has been deemed necessary in certain circumstances, Fertility Road will also use fact-checkers.
Corrections
When we get it wrong, we correct our mistakes. The website is obligated to publish a clear correction as soon as possible after the error has appeared. The reporter is responsible for notifying editors if a correction needs to be made.
Transparency
A Fertility Road contributor should always identify themselves as such when covering a story. To further maintain transparency, contributors should not steal documents or receive stolen documents even if they are relevant to a story. In addition, contributors should not record an interview without the interview subject first consenting. In some states, doing such is illegal, and contributors should be familiar with these laws. Lastly, Anonymous sources are usually not used in stories. Contributors should not grant confidentiality to a source without receiving permission from an editor. Furthermore, contributors should not use an anonymous source if the information the source is providing cannot be verified. The information from the anonymous source should be verified from a second source if possible.
Social Media
Contributors should not post opinions on issues that Fertility Road covers to ensure the paper maintains objectivity. The contributors should operate under the idea that everything he or she posts to social media sites is viewable to the general public even if his or her account is set to private.