Optimist India holds its journalists to a clear ethical standard. This policy sets out what our reporters and editors may and may not do.
Conflicts of interest. Writers disclose any financial, personal or professional relationship that could affect a story. Disclosures appear at the top of the article, not buried in a footer. Editors with a conflict recuse themselves.
Gifts, travel and payment. Optimist India journalists do not accept payment, gifts or favours from the people and organisations they cover. Where press travel is unavoidable, it is disclosed on the relevant story.
Sources. We honour agreed confidentiality, we do not fabricate or composite sources, and we give subjects of critical reporting a fair opportunity to respond.
Accuracy and fairness. We represent facts and people accurately, we do not distort context to make a story more uplifting than the evidence allows, and we correct errors promptly.
Concerns about a possible ethics breach can be raised through our contact desk and are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief.