Editorial Policy
Statement of Purpose
This document is the primary guiding document of The Terabyte Tribune. It defines the strict standards we hold ourselves to in order to cover technology news the way it deserves to be covered. This is a living document, written and enforced by The Editorial Board. As such, they may decide to revise it from time to time as they see fit.
Primary Coverage Standards
As The Terabyte Tribune is a responsible means of communication, it is essential that the staff adhere to the following standards. These standards are the basis for more specific sections of the policy, defined below.
Good taste and good judgment will govern TBT journalists.
The main concern will be to publish the truth with objectivity, accuracy, fairness and independence.
All material will have impeccable sentence structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
The Terabyte Tribune will not publish any material that is obscene to minors (those under 18 years of age). Obscene material does NOT include “Indecent” or “Vulgar” language, or works that, when taken as a whole, have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
Sourcing Standards
On The Record
When speaking to a reporter who has clearly identified themselves as such, information is assumed to be provided on the record unless there is a prior agreement with the reporter. Information provided on the record may be directly quoted and attributed to the source by name.
Speaking to a reporter on conditions other than on the record requires an affirmative agreement with the journalist. Simply prefacing a statement or email with "on background," "on deep background" or "off the record" does not constitute such an agreement.
On Background
Information provided on background may be quoted or published, but not attached to the source's name. A vague identifier, such as "A Microsoft developer," "a spokesperson for Apple" or "a source familiar with the matter" may be used instead, alongside an explanation for why we granted anonymity,
On Deep Background
Information provided on deep background may not be quoted directly, and the source may not be identified in any way, but it may be paraphrased for publication or repeated to other sources.
Off The Record
Information provided off the record may not be published in any way, nor repeated to other sources, unless it can be sourced elsewhere.
Professional Conduct
Terabyte Tribune journalists must adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics, which defines standards for professional conduct, integrity and accuracy.
Conflicts of Interest
Terabyte Tribune journalists must recuse themselves from any coverage to which they or a close family member have a personal or financial relationship which could reasonably constitute a conflict of interest.
Investments
Terabyte Tribune journalists shall not hold a financial interest in companies that are likely to be relevant to coverage they are regularly involved in, including stocks or other securities. Staff members remain free to invest in diversified investments that they cannot control, such as mutual funds or money markets, treasury bills or investment-grade bonds. To avoid even the appearance of a conflict, staff members are encouraged to avoid investments in any technology companies.
Staff members may not buy or sell securities or make other investments in anticipation of coverage that originates with The Terabyte Tribune. In general, staff members may not act on such information until 24 hours have passed from the time of publication. This restriction does not apply to public information that is first published by other sources.
Journalists who are temporarily assigned to cover an industry in which they hold financial interest must disclose that interest to their assignment editor before accepting the assignment. In many cases, work on the assignment may proceed, but the staff member may not buy or sell the conflicting security until two weeks after publication. Journalists who are permanently reassigned to cover an industry in which they hold a financial interest must divest or accept a different assignment.
Advertising
The Terabyte Tribune Advertising Policy, found at https://company.terabytetribune.com/policy-center/advertising-policy, is incorporated herein by reference and shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Libel
The Terabyte Tribune will not publish potentially libelous material, as defined below.
Libel is injury to reputation. Words, pictures, or cartoons that are provably false, unprivileged, and expose a person to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person, are libelous.
If an allegedly libeled party is a “public figure” or “public official” (a person who either seeks the public’s attention or is well known because of personal achievements), then it must be proven that the false statement was published with actual malice (i. e., that the journalists knew that the statement was false or published it with a reckless disregard for the truth — without attempting to verify the truthfulness of the statement). If an allegedly libelous statement concerns a private individual, it must be shown that the false statement was published willfully and negligently (i.e., the journalist who wrote that statement failed to exercise reasonably prudent care).
Generative Artificial Intelligence
While AI has the potential to become a helpful tool for professionals in all industries, in its current state, generative AI is antithetical to journalistic integrity. In too many cases, AI has proven to confidently generate false or potentially libelous information, making it a liability both legally and ethically.
The Terabyte Tribune does not publish content created, written or edited, in whole or in part, by generative artificial intelligence models, except in cases where the AI-generated voice or character is the main purpose of the story. In such stories, it should be clearly communicated to the reader, through quotes and attributions as required by Associated Press Style guidelines, what content within the story is AI-generated.
The use of AI image generators is permissible for abstract illustrations, so long as the image is clearly attributed and does not depict real-life people or events.
The Editorial Board Charter
Definition
The Editorial Board (The Board) is a group of no more than five Terabyte Tribune staff members whose purpose is to guide and uphold the editorial policy of The Terabyte Tribune. The board's views represent those of The Terabyte Tribune as an organization; however, they may not reflect the opinion of The Terabyte Tribune’s entire staff.
Purpose and Scope
The Board shall review all letters to the editor, guest columns, and controversial coverage to ensure that their publication is acceptable within the terms of this editorial policy.
The Board shall review controversial articles and advertisements to ensure that their publication is acceptable within the terms of this editorial policy.
The Board shall act as the final decision-maker on all questions of ethics.
Members
The Executive Editor, appointed by the publisher in accordance with the organization's operating agreement, shall be a member of the board ex officio.
In consultation with the publication's voting ownership, the Publisher shall appoint eligible employees to fill any remaining vacant seats.
No person who is not a current employee of The Terabyte Tribune shall serve on the Editorial Board. If a member is dismissed during their service, their seat shall be considered vacant.
Officers
The board shall elect a chairperson and secretary at the beginning of each calendar year, for a term of one year unless renewed by the board.
At the board's discretion, they may elect a vice-chairperson to perform the duties of the chair in their absence.
Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern The Editorial Board in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this charter and any special rules of order the board shall adopt.
The board may adopt special rules of order by a 2/3rds vote, or by unanimous consent. Special rules of order shall have the same force and effect as if they were contained within the rules of order defined in clause 1 of this section. Special rules of order shall not be used to contradict or dispense with any provisions of this charter.