At HPRBOnline.com, we are committed to the highest ethical standards. This code ensures our team acts with integrity, follows all laws, and prioritizes the company’s and our users’ best interests over personal gain.
The Code of Ethics aims to maintain digital publishing standards and protect the independence of journalists, content entities, and publishers.
Legal Compliance:
Digital news websites must adhere to numerous laws and regulations related to the Constitution and media, as well as follow provisions of the IPC, CrPC, and the Information Technology Act, 2000 to ensure ethical journalism.
Journalistic Ethics:
Adhere to accepted norms of Journalistic Ethics and maintain high professional standards. This includes self-regulatory ethics and newsroom processes.
Accuracy, Transparency & Fairness:
Avoid publishing inaccurate or distorted material. Verify information before publication. Avoid defamation and follow applicable laws.
Right of Reply:
- Include comments or versions from individuals or parties when making allegations. If responses come later, incorporate them.
- If there are updates in the news, and the concerned party requests an update, make the changes and note the date of the update.
Correction of Errors:
Edit or delete articles found to contain false or inaccurate information upon verification from the concerned person or party.
Respect Intellectual Property Rights:
- Respect copyright in text, photos, and other materials. Seek permission for use and acknowledge rights.
- Pay any required fees or royalties.
- Do not use trademarks or service marks of third parties without permission or fair use.
- Edit, delete, or take down content if there is an infringement of intellectual property rights.
Care in Reporting Sensational Matters:
Preserve the presumption of innocence. Avoid speculation and biased reporting, especially in sensitive cases.
Special Care in Sensitive Reporting:
Follow Sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, for reporting on sexual harassment, child abuse, and other sensitive topics.
Grievance Redressal Mechanism:
Follow the grievance redressal mechanism as outlined by the Information Technology Act, 2000. Appoint a grievance officer who acts within 36 hours of receiving a complaint and resolves it within a month.
Conflicts of Interest:
Avoid situations that may involve conflicts between personal interests and company interests. Disclose any potential conflicts to your manager.
a). Ownership by you or your family of a significant interest in any outside enterprise that does or seeks to do business with or is a competitor of the company.
b). Serving as a director, officer, partner, consultant, or in a managerial or technical capacity with an outside enterprise that does or is seeking to do business with or is a competitor of the company. Exceptions to this can be approved by the CEO of HPRBOnline.com.
c). Acting as a broker, finder, go-between, or otherwise for the benefit of a third party in transactions involving the company.
d). Any other arrangements or circumstances, including family or personal relationships, which might dissuade you from acting in the best interest of the company.
Confidential Information:
Do not reveal or use any confidential product information, data on decisions, plans, or any other information that might be against the interest of the company without prior authorization. Misuse, unauthorized access, or mishandling of confidential information is strictly prohibited and will lead to disciplinary action up to immediate discharge.
Plagiarism:
At HPRBOnline.com, plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and prohibited.
Fact-Checking:
We prioritize accurate information over breaking news. We wait before sharing if enough information is not available and avoid speculation. It is our goal to slow down the release of breaking news to prevent false or inaccurate information from circulating.