Berlingske Media, a publishing company, prioritizes delivering high-quality journalism across all platforms and genres while maintaining journalistic ethics to ensure fair, credible reporting. The company’s commitment to ethical standards extends to all editorial staff, freelance employees, and temporary staff, setting minimum requirements for journalistic quality across its media outlets.
Journalistic integrity is paramount, with journalists expected to maintain impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest. This includes refraining from actions that could compromise their objectivity, such as membership in political organizations or owning shares in companies they cover. Clear bulkheads are maintained between journalism and opinion pieces, and advertising is distinctly separated from editorial content.
The media group adheres to strict rules regarding legal affairs, including the protection of individuals’ identities and respect for court-imposed name bans. Special care is taken when reporting on sensitive information such as family relationships, race, or religious beliefs, and convicts are only named under specific circumstances and with careful consideration of social relevance.
The ethical guidelines also address the treatment of sources, emphasizing the importance of contacting all relevant parties, presenting their views accurately, and respecting their wishes for anonymity or confidentiality. Journalists are expected to show respect in sensitive situations, such as deaths or accidents, and to avoid violating privacy unless the public interest outweighs it. Corrections are promptly issued and clearly marked, and articles are generally not deleted unless based on completely erroneous information or having a disproportionately large damaging effect.
Berlingske Media’s guidelines for social media emphasize the public nature of online content and the importance of maintaining professionalism and integrity. Journalists are encouraged to use their real identities, disclose their professional affiliations, and engage in constructive dialogue while upholding ethical standards. The company also has specific guidelines for the use of photography, TV footage, graphics, and sound, ensuring that images are produced lawfully, respect privacy, and accurately represent reality. Reportage images must give a credible representation of events, while illustrations and model photos must be clearly marked. Moving images are subject to the same basic rules as still images, and user-supplied images are carefully validated for rights management and credibility. Proper credit and bylines must always be given to photographers.