Supplementary letter from Trinity Mirror
plc
Further to your letter dated, 10 January, please
find the response to your latest question below:
This response applies to Trinity Mirror Regionals,
the division that I run.
What is Trinity Mirror's policy on political reporting
during local and general elections? Who chooses which party, if
any, your papers will support?
It would be extremely unusual for our regional
titles to voice editorial support for one party as all our titles
are expected to follow an issue led agenda.
Our approach to political reporting is covered
in paragraph 10 of our regional newspapers' editorial policy document,
which reads:
10. Editors and their staff must avoid political
bias driven by personal preferences. As a general rule, our newspapers
and web sites are expected to follow an issue-led agenda, not
a party-political one. It is recognised that, in the interests
of local democracy, the application of this policy may result
in a title consistently challenging the party in power.
The detailed coverage and balance of content
during local and general elections, is decided by each title editor.
In general, they will give proportional prominence to parties,
based on their customary or predicted level of support in the
area. For example, in a constituency which had eight candidates,
three of whom were the clear front-runners, the leading candidates
would receive approximately equal coverage over the course of
the campaign. This might vary to some degree, depending on the
relative activity levels of each candidate. Fringe candidates
would receive less coverage. The exception might be parties such
as the BNP. Some editors may decide to give them equal billing
to other parties, while others may decide to deny them the oxygen
of publicity. This is a matter for the individual editor alone.
I have attached a complete copy of our editorial
policy, for your information.
If I can be of any further assistance, please
do not hesitate to contact me.
5 February 2008
TRINITY MIRROR REGIONALS
EDITORIAL POLICYUPDATED
18/08/06
1. Our editors must ensure that they and
their journalists work within the parameters of the Editors' Code
of Practice.
2. Our products—newspapers and web
sites—are intended to have wide appeal, to people from a
range of ages, beliefs and backgrounds. Content should be inclusive
and should broadly reflect the composition and interests of the
communities and market segments we serve.
3. In general, our products are intended
to be read by whole families, and their editorial content, tone
and style should reflect this.
4. Our journalists, and in particular our
reporting staffs, are ambassadors for our businesses. We expect
them to pursue stories vigorously, without fear or favour, while
behaving at all times in a professional, courteous manner.
5. All editorial staff must strive at all
times to produce content that is fair, accurate and balanced.
Errors must be corrected promptly.
6. Editors carry ultimate responsibility
for providing appropriate content in their newspapers and web
sites, and they must be free to edit without interference from
general management. Therefore, while managing directors and senior
executives are entitled to express an opinion, they should not
seek to influence the editor's decisions on the selection or projection
of specific items of content. If an issue of this nature arises,
and it cannot be resolved locally between the managing director
and editor, it should be referred to the divisional editorial
director. If the matter remains unresolved, it should be referred
to the managing director of Trinity Mirror Regionals.
7. Editors are expected to make managing
directors and senior commercial managers aware, in advance of
publication, of any content they believe may have an adverse commercial
impact on the business. This is in the interests of good internal
communications only, and does not over-ride the preceding point
on editorial independence.
8. Editors are responsible for ensuring
that the overall content and style of their products are in tune
with the aims of the current marketing plan. It is the role of
the managing director and the divisional editorial director to
monitor this objective and to raise the matter with editors if
it is not being successfully achieved.
9. Editors and editorial managers have a
duty of care to their staff. On occasions when the pursuit of
a particular story might involve a risk to a journalist's personal
safety, this should be pointed out to the individual and their
agreement to participate obtained, without coercion. If publication
of a particular piece of content could jeopardise the safety of
our journalists or other staff, the matter must be referred to
the senior editorial executive within the operating company and
the managing director of the operating company, prior to publication.
Editors must ensure that, for all business-related
trips abroad by their staff, appropriate health & safety measures
are considered. All relevant risk assessment and, where necessary,
hostile environments documentation must be properly completed,
and the regionals editorial director's sign-off obtained, before
departure.
10. Editors and their staff must avoid political
bias driven by personal preferences. As a general rule, our newspapers
and web sites are expected to follow an issue-led agenda, not
a party-political one. It is recognised that, in the interests
of local democracy, the application of this policy may result
in a title consistently challenging the party in power.
11. The impartiality of our journalists
must be beyond question. Therefore, all journalists are required
to obtain clearance, in writing, from their editor or designated
senior editorial manager before accepting press trips, other significant
hospitality or gifts. Editors are required to obtain clearance,
in writing, from their managing director before accepting press
trips, other significant hospitality or gifts.
12. Our newspapers and web sites should
not mention a competitor unless it is in the context of a genuine
news story or justifiable comment. It is acceptable to carry articles,
supported by statistical data, which assist our marketing effort
by comparing our performance against that of competitors. However,
none of our newspapers should carry copy that attacks a competitor
gratuitously.
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