INTRODUCTION
Ahle Subah is committed to journalism that is responsible, honest, accurate, independent, and fair. Our journalism is guided by the principles of constitutional values, public interest, and ethical integrity. We do not align ourselves with any political party, ideology, pressure group, or special interest.
Our mission is to inform citizens, encourage informed debate, and strengthen democratic discourse through credible reporting and transparent opinion. We recognise that public trust is our most valuable asset, and we are accountable to our readers for maintaining the highest standards of journalism at all times.
APPLICABILITY OF THIS CODE
This Code of Ethics governs the professional, public, digital, and personal conduct of all editors, journalists, contributors, freelancers, and employees associated with Ahle Subah.
All content published under the Ahle Subah name whether news, opinion, analysis, multimedia, or social media must adhere to the principles outlined in this document.
This Code is a binding commitment and will be periodically reviewed to reflect changes in law, technology, and journalistic practice.
EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
- Editorial decisions at Ahle Subah are made independently and without external influence.
- Political parties, governments, advertisers, owners, or sponsors shall have no role in editorial judgment.
- Sponsored content, advertisements, and partnerships are clearly disclosed and visually distinguishable from editorial material.
- Opinion content is clearly marked and separated from factual reporting.
ACCURACY, VERIFICATION, AND DUE DILIGENCE
- Every reasonable effort is made to verify facts before publication.
- Information must be sourced from credible, identifiable, and reliable sources.
- Headlines, visuals, and captions must not mislead or exaggerate facts.
- Breaking news is published with caution and updated promptly as facts are verified.
- Rumours, speculation, and unverified claims are avoided or clearly identified as such.
FAIRNESS, BALANCE, AND IMPARTIALITY
- Reporting is conducted without prejudice, malice, or bias.
- All relevant perspectives are presented fairly wherever practicable.
- Individuals or organisations facing allegations are given reasonable opportunity to respond.
- Editorial opinions are based on facts and are clearly distinguished from news reporting.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
- Employees and contributors must avoid conflicts of interest or even the appearance of such conflicts.
- No employee shall participate in political campaigning, advocacy, or fundraising.
- Financial, professional, or personal relationships that may influence coverage must be disclosed to editors.
- Freelance or external engagements require prior editorial approval.
ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL INFLUENCE
- Advertisers shall not influence news coverage, editorial tone, or opinion.
- Paid content, native advertising, and sponsored features are clearly labelled.
- Commercial considerations shall never override editorial ethics.
GIFTS, FAVOURS, AND HOSPITALITY
- Employees shall not accept gifts, favours, or hospitality that could compromise independence.
- Expensive or inappropriate gifts must be disclosed and declined.
- Press credentials shall not be misused to obtain preferential treatment or avoid legal obligations.
PRIVACY AND SENSITIVITY
- The right to privacy is respected unless outweighed by clear public interest.
- Special care is taken while reporting on children, victims of crime, survivors of trauma, and vulnerable persons.
- Sensationalism, intrusion into grief, and graphic details are avoided.
- Identity of victims of sexual offences or minors is strictly protected.
USE OF SOURCES AND ATTRIBUTION
- Sources are identified wherever possible.
- Anonymous sources are used only when public interest justifies anonymity and safety concerns exist.
- Fabrication of sources or quotes is strictly prohibited.
- Social media content is used responsibly, respecting privacy and consent norms.
PLAGIARISM AND ORIGINALITY
- Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited.
- Content sourced from other publications must be properly attributed.
- Images, videos, and data shall not be altered in a misleading manner.
- Copyright laws are respected at all times.
DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONDUCT
- Online journalism follows the same ethical standards as traditional reporting.
- Social media posts by Ahle Subah must be factual, responsible, and lawful.
- Misinformation, manipulated media, and false narratives are actively avoided and corrected.
USER-GENERATED CONTENT AND COMMENTS
- User comments are moderated to prevent abuse, hate speech, misinformation, and unlawful content.
- Freedom of expression is respected within the bounds of law and civil discourse.
- Ahle Subah reserves the right to remove content that violates this Code or applicable law.
LEGAL COMPLIANCE
- Ahle Subah complies with all applicable Indian laws, including:
- Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
- Press Council of India norms
- Court orders and lawful directives
- Content may be modified or removed when legally required.
ERRORS, CORRECTIONS, AND CLARIFICATIONS
- Errors are corrected promptly, transparently, and with due prominence.
- Corrections acknowledge the mistake in earlier versions.
- Readers who point out errors are treated respectfully.
- Retractions are issued where information is materially incorrect.
GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL
- Ahle Subah maintains a grievance redressal mechanism as mandated by Indian law.
- Complaints related to content or ethics are acknowledged and addressed within prescribed timelines.
- Appropriate corrective action is taken where complaints are found valid.
ENFORCEMENT AND REVIEW
- Violation of this Code may result in corrective measures, disciplinary action, or termination.
- This Code is a living document and will evolve with changing journalistic standards and legal requirements.
CONCLUSION
Ahle Subah believes ethical journalism is essential to democracy and public trust. This Code of Ethics reflects our commitment to responsible reporting, transparency, accountability, and respect for the law.
— Team Ahle Subah
