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We support a media ecosystem where journalistic credibility is both earned and protected. Comma is building a culture of transparency and integrity in journalism by promoting accuracy, impartiality, and balance in news reporting for the public good. Comma aims to create a vibrant and open dialogue with readers.
These include:
Code of Ethics — The Allied Newsrooms of Comma, including The Spokesman-Review, follow the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics with its four foundational tenants:
People’s Editor/Ombudsperson — An ombudsman’s role is to protect and enhance the quality of an organization’s journalism by encouraging respectful and truthful discourse about journalism’s practices and purpose. This provides a journalist, independent of the newsroom, working on behalf of reader questions and concerns to hold the newsroom journalists accountable to the Code of Ethics. This position reports directly to the President of the Comma Community Journalism Lab.
Reader Review — Each month, readers may meet with a reporter and editor to discuss a story or topic of concern. The goal is to establish a real dialogue and relationship with our readers with the hope our readers, editors and reporters will learn more about each other.. A short transcript of the discussion may be published should it reveal points worth sharing with our general readership.
Public planning – As it has for the past nine years, daily news planning meetings are open to the public. Readers can schedule times to attend and see how stories are selected each day and how their newspaper is put together.
Coffee with Comma — Monthly standing meetups with reporters and editors, held in different neighborhoods and areas of our region.
Online submissions – Comma will provide an online submission form where the public may suggest stories and/or angles to stories being covered which they feel may have been missed. Comma cannot nor will not guarantee all ideas will result in additional reporting, but impactful ideas will always be treated as such.
Wire explainers – How do the wire stories end up in our newspaper and why? This is a standing explanation including the basics of syndicated stories and photos, how the stories are usually selected, and who to contact from the wire services with questions.
Donor relationships – Community members may contribute philanthropic gifts to support physical plant, newsroom operations and contribute to a general fund to support journalists. Donors and their gifts will be kept strictly separate from specific beats or reporters. Although donors may participate in any activity outlined here, final editorial decisions will come from newsroom management.