Policies

Southern Cross News Publication Policies

Southern Cross News is committed to delivering the highest standards of journalism to Aotearoa. We believe in providing accurate, reliable, and engaging news that serves our community. To achieve this, we are guided by the following principles:

1. Editorial Independence:

• Tō Mātou Reo, Tō Mātou Kōrero: We maintain full control over our editorial content. This ensures our journalistic integrity is protected and that our decisions are made independently of any outside influences, including advertisers and donors.
• He Whakarite Motuhake: We have a clear firewall between our editorial decisions and our revenue sources. This helps us avoid any conflicts of interest that could compromise our reporting.

2. Transparency and Accountability:

• Te Puku o te Kōrero: We’ll make public all significant donors and funding sources, so you know who’s supporting our work.
• Te Tika me te pono: We have a robust corrections policy in place to address and rectify any errors promptly and accurately.

3. Ethical Standards:

• Te Tiaki i ō Mātou Pūrongo: We understand the importance of protecting confidential sources and handling sensitive information responsibly.
• Te Whakarite me te Aromātai: We have rigorous fact-checking and verification processes to ensure accuracy and credibility.
• He Whakataurite: We reserve the right to censor hateful opinions that promote discrimination or violence. Our goal is to create a safe and inclusive space for all.
• He Kaitiaki: We stand for the preservation and protection of the integrity of our Mariekura ( women) and children (Tama-ariki mokopuna) our future generations.
• Kotahitanga: We believe that every single person in his country is a Treaty partner ( Tangata Tiriti ) for when Hobson signed the document February 6th 1840, he signed it on behalf of the British Crown, and all future generations who migrate to these shores, regardless of ethnicity.

4. Diverse Voices and Inclusion:

• He Whānuitanga o ngā Kōrero: We are committed to representing diverse voices and perspectives in our reporting.
• He Rōpū Pūrongo Whānuitanga: We promote diversity within our newsroom to reflect the community we serve.

5. Reader Engagement:

• Tō Mātou Whakautu: We encourage your feedback and engagement to build trust and improve the quality of our content.
• Te Whanaungatanga: We want to foster a sense of community by involving our readers in discussions and decision-making processes.

6. Using Technology Wisely:

• Te Awhina a te Tinihanga: We’re developing guidelines for the ethical use of AI and automation in journalism. We want to make sure these tools enhance our work, not compromise our journalistic standards.

7. Legal and Safety Considerations:

• Te Tiaki i ō Mātou Kai Pūrongo: We have safety protocols in place for our journalists, especially those working in high-risk environments.

By implementing these policies, Southern Cross News can uphold high standards of journalism and maintain the trust of our audience in Aotearoa.

8. Southern Cross News Social Media Policy:

Purpose: This policy outlines the guidelines for all users interacting with Southern Cross News on social media platforms, specifically on the Southern Cross News Facebook page. The purpose of this policy is to foster a respectful and engaging online community while maintaining the integrity and reputation of Southern Cross News.

Scope: This policy applies to all users, including but not limited to:

• Employees of Southern Cross News
• Contributors
• Readers
• Followers

General Guidelines:

• Whakaute – Respectful Language: All users are expected to engage in respectful and courteous communication. This includes refraining from using offensive language, personal attacks, hate speech, or discriminatory remarks.
• Tika – Appropriate Content: Posts and comments should be relevant to the topics discussed on the Southern Cross News Facebook page. Content unrelated to the news organization’s mission, including personal opinions or irrelevant discussions, will be removed.
• Pono – Accuracy and Truthfulness: Users are encouraged to share accurate and truthful information. Posts containing false or misleading information will be removed.
• Hihiri – Privacy: Users should respect the privacy of others and avoid sharing personal information without consent.
• Mana – Copyright: Users are responsible for respecting copyright laws. Sharing copyrighted material without permission is prohibited.

Prohibited Content:

The following content is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate removal from the Southern Cross News Facebook page:

• Hatinga – Hate Speech: Content that promotes hatred, discrimination, or violence against any individual or group based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
• Whakama – Harassment: Content that targets individuals with abusive, threatening, or harassing language.
• Pukorero – Spam: Content that is unsolicited commercial promotion or advertising.
• Pakanga – Violence: Content that depicts or glorifies violence.
• Whakama – Nudity and Pornography: Content that is sexually explicit or offensive.
• Ture – Illegal Activities: Content that promotes or encourages illegal activities.
• Whakama – Personal Attacks: Content that attacks or insults individuals, including employees of Southern Cross News.
• Teka – False or Misleading Information: Content that is demonstrably false or misleading.
• Whakama – Offensive Language: Content that uses profanity, vulgarity, or other offensive language.

Enforcement:

Any user violating this policy will receive a warning. Continued violations will result in removal from the Southern Cross News Facebook page.

Reporting Violations:

Users are encouraged to report any violations of this policy by contacting https://southerncross.news/contact/

Disclaimer:

Southern Cross News reserves the right to remove any content that violates this policy, regardless of the user’s intent. Southern Cross News is not responsible for the content posted by users on its Facebook page.

Revisions:

This policy may be revised at any time at the discretion of Southern Cross News.

This policy is intended to be a general guideline. Specific situations may require further clarification or interpretation.