Ethics Policy
Scope
This policy applies to staff, contributors to the site, and the associated workforce.
Policy Statement
Mesomen is a leading men’s grooming and lifestyle publication with offices in st Helens, Merseyside, UK. The members of the Mesomen community come from diverse backgrounds, religions, cultures, and countries.
Values of honesty, fairness, and mutual respect underpin everything we do. Core to our mission to enrich, inspire, and empower modern men to make a positive investment in themselves today and tomorrow is a focus on creating respectful relationships within the greater community. It is essential that we are able to act with integrity in facing ethical issues.
At all times, we embrace true diversity and equal opportunity while respecting the human rights and legally protected attributes of all individuals. Our mandate is to continually challenge ourselves when resolving ethical questions and in evaluating what is right (ethical) and wrong (unethical).
This Ethics Statement details the ethical values and principles that are expected of all staff and contributors as members of the Mesomen community. It is comprised of general principles, which guide individuals in their decision-making. It should inspire us and challenge us to identify, consider, discuss, and resolve ethical questions.
- Ethics Statement
All staff and associated workforce at Mesomen are expected to adopt the following ethical approaches in their actions, communications, and work activity as a Mesomen staff member:
Mesomen as a Media Organization
Uphold freedom of speech and expression as defining values of Mesomen. Freedom of the press is an integral part of freedom of speech. Journalists uphold the principle of truth and fairness. Journalists should strive to uphold freedom of the press and take public interest as the basis of their work. Act with integrity, transparency, and professionalism at all times. Submit outputs only when founded on honest effort and personal achievement. Acknowledge our responsibility to treat both humans and animals humanely and ethically. Promote the empowerment of individuals through learning, and the empowerment of society through research and news publishing. Owners, executives, and senior editors of Mesomen have the responsibility to encourage and require editorial staff to adhere to these principles. Mesomen as a Place for People to Work
Treat each other with honesty, fairness, mutual respect, and be responsible in the exercise of power. Harness each person’s diversity promoting equality and inclusivity. Be open to different perspectives and attitudes. We respect the inherent dignity, beliefs, and human rights of all individuals. Be responsible and accountable for our decisions and actions as individuals and as an organization. Mesomen in Society
In publishing and advancing knowledge, strive to achieve social justice for all and to redress past wrongs. Act responsibly to promote, and to contribute to the achievement of, environmental sustainability. Acknowledge our responsibility to contribute to the communities in which we operate.
- Application
These core values and principles help us to challenge any preconceptions and to ensure we lead by example when resolving ethical questions. By committing to our values, we are able to drive deep and enduring relationships with staff, partners in industry, and the wider community.
This Ethics Statement is designed to support our community when faced with ethical issues. It does not replace specific company policies and procedures, or applicable rights and obligations.
Mesomen acknowledges that many staff have concurrent allegiances to their profession, discipline, community, and religious and cultural traditions.
- General Guidelines
Journalists should seek truth, fairness, objectivity, impartiality, and comprehensiveness. They must ensure accuracy, fairness, and balance at all times.
They will not quote out of context or distort facts. Ensure balance in all stories by giving individuals, groups, or organizations, the right of reply. Under no circumstances will journalists self-censor their stories, or be influenced by any personal political beliefs or external pressure. If inaccuracy, misleading facts, wrong figures, or distortion occurs, corrections are prompt, clear, and open.
Journalists should not pander to prurience, indecency, and sensationalism, using special caution when reporting news involving violence, crime, suicide, or minors. Journalists will respect the reputation and privacy of individuals and will use special caution when reporting on those who have declined to give their consent. Journalists should not intrude into the privacy of children.
The behavior and personal data of public officials will only be published if it is relevant to their public office, or if it is in the public interest to do so. Journalists should avoid conflicts of interest in any form and declare any possible conflict of interest to their line manager. Should there be a conflict of interest, another journalist will be assigned to cover the story.
Journalists should resist influence by political, economic, and other interests related to themselves, their families, or their employers. They should protect themselves from undue influence by remaining politically neutral in their work, even if this conflicts with their personal beliefs.
Journalists should not seek monetary or other advantages from information that they have obtained in the course of discharging their duties; nor should journalists pass the information to others so the journalists might obtain an indirect advantage. Journalists who report on a company or financial instrument including all derivatives in which they, or their family, have any kind of shareholding or interest, must notify their manager.
Journalists should not distort facts to appease advertisers or for any other consideration and should not be influenced by external pressure or economic considerations in their reports and commentaries. Journalists will not discriminate or encourage others to discriminate, on grounds of age, race, color, creed, religion, place, or circumstance of birth, disability, marital status, gender, or sexual orientation.
We should strive to include diverse voices from our community in our coverage to serve our readers and improve the balance in our journalism. Mesomen is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture among the entire workforce.
Gifts & Free Trips
Journalists will never accept a cash gift offered by a news source or contact. Gifts under the value of AUD$200 can be accepted, but only rarely. In circumstances where refusal of a more valuable gift may cause offense, the gift must be declared and handed over to a manager. Employees should refer to Mesomen’s internal Gifting Policy for further guidance.
Social Media
Journalists will make it clear that all opinions they express on social media are their own, and will never make it appear they represent the views of Mesomen. All newsroom discussions, meetings, and town halls are confidential and never shared on social media, personal blogs, Twitter, or any form of social media.
Always use the usual newsroom practice of good judgment, solid sourcing, fairness, balance, and accuracy in any social media activity. In professional social media profiles, you will identify yourself as a Mesomen journalist. On personal accounts, be aware anything you write can be associated with and will reflect on the Post through your job.
Journalists must never misrepresent themselves in chat rooms or online discussion forums. Journalists will not obtain information illegally by hacking. Discovering information publicly available on the web is fair game, but defeating passwords or other security methods is not acceptable.
Journalists must be mindful of how their use of social media will reflect on their professionalism and the collective reputation of Mesomen. Copyright laws, and libel laws, apply to information that comes from the Internet.
- Guidance
When dealing with an ethical issue, staff and the associated workforce should think about the following:
Does any specific legislation or Mesomen policy/procedure apply? What values are relevant from the Ethics Statement? Whose interests are potentially affected? (mine, other people, Mesomen’s) etc…
options and the consequences to stakeholders? What are my duties and obligations? Which option treats people equally or fairly? Should I discuss the issue with my supervisor or another senior staff member?
- Final Check
Once an approach is identified, to check it is appropriate, staff and students should ask themselves:
Is my decision consistent with the Ethics Statement? How would I feel if someone did this to me? Will this decision bring about a good result? Would I be happy for this decision to be on the public record, or on the cover of a newspaper? What would Mesomen be like if everyone made decisions like this? Would I be happy if my family knew what I am about to do? How will taking this action affect my character, or the character of Mesomen?
- Breaches
Mesomen treats any breach of its policies, procedures, and schedules seriously; it encourages reporting of concerns about non-compliance and manages compliance in accordance with the applicable Enterprise Agreement, relevant instrument of appointment, and/or applicable contract terms. A failure to comply with these policies may result in action by Mesomen. Such action may include disciplinary and other action up to and including potential termination of employment for employees or the cessation of engagements with Mesomen for other persons.
DEFINITIONS
Associated Workforce: means any person appointed by Mesomen to participate in publishing activities in an unpaid capacity and are not employees of Mesomen. The associated workforce includes (but is not limited to) Contractors, Mesomen Visitors, and Affiliates. Ethical Issue: A problem or situation that requires a person or Mesomen to choose between alternatives that must be evaluated as right (ethical) or wrong (unethical). Staff: means paid, academic, professional, and trades and services staff employed by Mesomen:
under a relevant Enterprise Agreement; or a contract or employment. Ethics Policy Review Date: 15 February 2023
Read all of our Editorial Policies & Standards here
