The Albertine Journal editorial guidelines
Much as we are incorporated as profit-making,we are guided by a commitment to advancing society and serving the public good, with strictness to editorial integrity and independence.
Our partners, board members, funders, advertisers acknowledge that editorial decisions are made on merit, independent thinking and have control over our content. The Editor has the final right to determine content for publication.
Accuracy, attribution, sourcing and context
The Albertine Journal is dedicated to reporting accurately, fairly, and with integrity. We are committed to promptly and publicly correcting any errors that arise.
We don’t withhold or distort pertinent facts to fit a particular agenda or narrative, and not knowingly detest misleading our audience.
When necessary, we will provide individuals or groups subject to allegations of wrongdoing or significant criticism in our journalism with the opportunity to respond. We are committed to fact-checking process for all our content.
Ensure thorough sourcing and identification of information. We believe in transparency, providing our audience with as much detail as possible about our sources to enable them to assess credibility.
Articles published and have anonymous, anonymity will be granted to sources only with the approval of the Editor and when there is a compelling reason to do so.
However, the confidentiality of promised anonymous sources will be safeguarded at all costs. In exceptional cases, the Editor may request the identity of anonymous sources to uphold editorial standards, but their confidentiality will be preserved.
Direct quotes remain unaltered, except to remove offensive language when appropriate, eliminate unnecessary filler words, guard against defamation, or for minor clarifications. Similarly, photographs will not be manipulated without a clear explanation of why and how they have been altered.
Our approach to utilizing videos and documentaries prioritize accuracy, relevance, and ethical considerations, ensuring that visual content enriches our storytelling while upholding journalistic integrity.
We carefully vet and fact-check all videos and documentaries, adhering to rigorous standards to maintain trust with our audience.
Any concerns regarding accuracy are promptly brought to the attention of The Editor for resolution before publication.
Declaration of conflict of interest or interest
Journalists, Reporters, Editors and Authors, are required to disclose any affiliations or funding that may be relevant or perceived as relevant to the subject they are writing about.
This transparency is crucial to uphold the aforementioned reputation and maintain the integrity and independence of the publication.
If deemed inappropriate or if conflicts cannot be resolved, editors should consider engaging a different reporter to pursue the story.
This policy primarily aims to inform our audience about any conflicts of interest rather than prevent publication of articles.
Declarations of conflicts will be prominently displayed alongside the article. Our staffs who fail to disclose relevant information may be barred from contributing in the future.
Conflicts may arise from receiving funding, political affiliations, or financial interests such as holding shares in a company relevant to the article or a story being investigated.
Commissioning editors are required to disclose any conflicts of interest to their manager when editing an article-story in which they have a clear connection or if doubts about their impartiality arise in dealings with a contributor.
In line with our commitment to transparency, journalists must disclose to editors if artificial intelligence (AI) is used in preparing an article. They should provide detailed information to the editorial team on how AI was employed.
Editing process-assigning, authorship approval
The editor is directed to curate high-quality, diverse, and fact-based content that offers a spectrum of viewpoints from experts within the academic, research houses, victims, and community and eyewitnesses accounts.
While all significant perspectives are considered, it must reflect evidence-based. However, in some incidences articles shall take positions on controversial and newsworthy topics, giving specific perspectives without the requirement of impartiality.
On the other hand, relevant facts will not be selectively excluded to support a particular position conveniently.
When valid alternative views supported by compelling evidence exist, they should be sought out and included.
Additionally, if important issues are being overlooked or under-explored, this publication must strive to bring them to attention.
The commitment to presenting a suitable diversity of perspectives on controversial issues must be supervised by the Editorial Board with approval from the Editor-in-Chief and subject to periodic internal audits.
As outlined in our commitment, we shall be an editorially independent media house, free from political bias and business interests.
Any opinions expressed in articles belong solely to the named opinion writer and may not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.
We encourage interaction between editor and writers, photographers and authors as a constructive process to balance audience expectations and uphold our values. Author approval is usually consent for publication by the editorial process.
Legal
The Albertine Journal will make every attempt to comply with the law. This includes laws on privacy, plagiarism, use of confidential information, defamation, contempt of court and prejudice.
However, it is imperative that these laws align with the legal principles of journalism and adhere to international conventions ratified by a particular authority in the area or country of jurisdiction.
The expectation of privacy will only be waived in the event that it is outweighed by public interest.
Just because other media may make choices around privacy and identification, it does not necessarily follow that we will make the same decision. In fact, it should make no difference to the implementation of our own editorial processes.
We will re-publish materials from social media so long as it is consistent with our editorial policies, but on conditioned the source of the information will be marked as having been attained from social media.
Correction of errors and retractions
The Albertine Journal strives for accuracy, fairness and welcomes advice from readers in case of any error or mistake made, as quickly as possible. Readers will be notified of change in the case of correction of spelling, grammar and alterations.
Photographs
Photographs will only be removed if they violate our editorial principles. Readers who feel a photograph has been used inappropriately may email the publication on editorial@thealbertinejournal.com to submit a removal request.
Complaints
Complaints should be emailed to the same email: editorial@thealbertinejournal.com. The editor responsible will assess the complaint and correct it.
Advertising and funding
The Albertine Journal shall generate revenue from partners, grants, advertisements, paywalls, photographs, documentaries and the research sector, in addition to receiving support from various philanthropic organizations and individual donors.
The disclosure of these funding sources shall be indicated or not, depending on the agreements signed.
This funding enables us to maintain editorial excellence and foster innovation to serve our audiences effectively.
We prioritize partnerships with any right seeking member to foster good journalism, actively seek and strengthen support from philanthropic foundations, and encourage reader donations.
We uphold the integrity of our publication by exclusively seeking non-partisan sponsorship from educational, governmental, media funding organizations, civil society or Non-Governmental Organizations and private partners. Any advertising must be relevant.
Paid-for content will be clearly labeled as such, in accordance with international standards of transparency and journalistic integrity; ensuring readers are informed about the nature of the content they consume.
We maintain strict separation between editorial content and paid promotions, upholding our commitment to delivering unbiased and credible journalism to our audience.
Protecting journalists from attacks by unfriendly news sources
At The Albertine Journal, the safety and well-being of our journalists are of paramount importance.
We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism while ensuring the protection of our staff in the face of potential threats or attacks from unfriendly news sources. To this end, we have established the following transparent editorial guidelines:
Safety Protocols: this publication maintains comprehensive safety protocols to minimize risks to our journalists.
These protocols include training in conflict resolution, digital security measures, and guidelines for reporting from potentially hostile environments.
Risk assessment: before assigning journalists to cover stories involving unfriendly news sources or contentious topics, we conduct thorough risk assessments.
This includes evaluating the potential for intimidation, harassment, physical violence, or digital threats.
Legal support: we provide legal support and resources to our journalists in the event of legal challenges or threats from unfriendly news sources. This includes access to legal counsel and assistance in navigating legal proceedings.
Digital security measures: we employ robust digital security measures to safeguard our journalists against cyber-attacks, hacking attempts, and online harassment from unfriendly news sources. This includes regular cyber security training and the use of encryption tools for communication.
Psychological support: recognizing the psychological toll of facing attacks or threats, we offer psychological support services to journalists who may experience distress or trauma as a result of their work. This includes access to counseling and mental health resources.
Solidarity and advocacy: we stand in solidarity with journalists facing attacks from unfriendly news sources and actively advocate for their safety and protection.
This contains speaking out against harassment, intimidation, and violence targeting journalists and supporting initiatives that promote press freedom and safety.
Transparency: we are transparent about any threats or attacks our journalists may face from unfriendly news sources.
We communicate openly with our staff and the public about such incidents, while also respecting the privacy and security of those involved.
Collaboration with authorities: in cases where journalists are targeted by unfriendly news sources, we collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of our staff. This may include reporting threats to law enforcement agencies and seeking legal recourse.
Training and education: we provide ongoing training and education to our journalists on safety measures, conflict management, and digital security practices to empower them to navigate potentially risky situations with confidence and resilience.
Continuous review and improvement: we continuously review and update our editorial guidelines and safety protocols to adapt to evolving threats and challenges faced by journalists from unfriendly news sources.
Addressing corruption while protecting Journalists
We recognize the importance of addressing corruption while also safeguarding the integrity and safety of our journalists who may be involved in investigative reporting on such matters.
We do not tolerate any form of corruption, whether it involves our own staff or external entities.
When investigating allegations of corruption, we are transparent about our methods, sources, and any potential conflicts of interest.
We strive to provide context and evidence to support our reporting, allowing readers to make informed judgments about the information presented.
We take measures to protect the confidentiality and safety of sources who provide information related to corruption.
Our journalists are trained in techniques for securely communicating with sources and safeguarding their identities.