Media Policy - Rwenzori Daily
Preamble
The Rwenzori Daily Media Initiative (RDMI) is committed to producing ethical, high-quality, and impactful multimedia and investigative journalism. This handbook provides a comprehensive framework for editorial, operational, ethical, and organizational conduct, ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability while promoting public trust and community engagement. It is a unique policy document tailored to RDMI’s mission of environmental, public-health, and social-impact reporting.
1. Editorial and Content Guidelines - Accuracy and Verification
All content must be rigorously verified, citing primary sources. Sensitive information requires a dual-verification system. – Impact-Driven Reporting: Content should educate, empower, and catalyse positive community action. Investigative pieces must prioritize societal relevance, environmental stewardship, and public health. – Inclusive and Community-Centric Approach: Ensure marginalized voices are included in reporting and all coverage respects local cultures, traditions, and human dignity. – Multimedia Standards: Maintain consistent quality across print, audio, video, and digital platforms. Use interactive and data-driven storytelling to enhance audience engagement.
2. Ethics and Professional Conduct - Integrity and Independence:
Staff must remain independent from political, commercial, or personal pressures. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed and managed. – Protection of Sources and Whistleblowers: Confidentiality of sources is paramount. Secure communication channels and legal protections will be used. – Responsible Advocacy: Advocacy for causes must be evidence-based, transparent, and clearly distinguished from editorial reporting.
3. Operational Policy - Transparency in Decision-Making
Key decisions, including content commissioning, partnerships, and financial allocation, must be documented and approved by the Executive Committee. – Sustainability in Resource Use: Implement eco-friendly office practices, energy-efficient technologies, and sustainable reporting methods. – Innovation and Adaptation: Staff are encouraged to adopt new storytelling tools, data analytics, and audience engagement techniques.
4. Membership and Staff Policy - Recruitment and Mentorship
Merit, inclusivity, and potential guide recruitment. Junior journalists receive structured mentorship, training, and evaluation. – Professional Development: Continuous learning through workshops, courses, and exchange programs is mandatory. – Accountability and Performance: Staff and members are held accountable for adherence to this policy through annual performance and compliance reviews.
5. Financial and Partnership Policy - Transparent Funding
All grants, donations, sponsorships, and revenue streams must be recorded and publicly disclosed. – Ethical Partnerships: Collaborate only with organisations whose values align with RDMI’s mission, without compromising editorial independence. – Revenue Innovation: Ethical revenue generation methods include training programs, content services, and research collaborations.
6. Community Engagement and Impact Policy - Participatory Journalism
Communities will be consulted during reporting to reflect their perspectives and needs. – Media Literacy Promotion: Implement programs educating the public on critical media consumption, fact-checking, and civic engagement. – Impact Evaluation: All projects and content initiatives will undergo measurable impact assessment to track social, environmental, and public-health outcomes.
7. Reporting Guidelines - Content Submission and Review
All content must be submitted for review by the Editorial Sub-Committee before publication. – Corrections and Retractions: Mistakes must be corrected promptly with transparency to maintain credibility. – Sensitive Information Handling: Implement protocols for data privacy, child protection, and vulnerable groups.
8. Organizational Governance - General Assembly Oversight
Sets strategic direction, approves budgets, adopts policies, and elects/removes officers. – Executive Committee Duties: Implements General Assembly decisions, oversees the Secretariat, manages finances, approves programs and partnerships. – Secretariat Operations: Delivers reporting, training, and incubation programs, manages staff, maintains editorial standards, and produces annual reports.
9. Review and Amendment
This handbook is a living document. It shall be reviewed biennially by the Executive Committee and amended with approval from the General Assembly to adapt to evolving journalistic, social, and technological landscapes.
Adoption This Media Policy Handbook is formally adopted by the RDMI General Assembly as the guiding framework for all operational, editorial, and organizational activities.