1. Object and Core Precepts
Doon Horizon voluntarily binds itself to this Code of Ethics, cementing our dedication to responsible digital journalism. While fiercely protecting our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms under Article 19(1)(a), we continuously monitor legal and regulatory developments that affect news gathering and dissemination.
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Editorial Independence: This Code establishes uncompromising standards of practice without interfering in the daily operations of the Doon Horizon newsroom, which retains absolute editorial autonomy.
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Core Purpose: To uphold the highest integrity in digital publishing while safeguarding the independence of our reporters, editors, and producers.
2. Adherence to the Law of the Land
Doon Horizon operates in strict compliance with accepted journalistic ethics and professional conduct. We are governed by the laws of the Republic of India, specifically:
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Constitutional Mandates: The Constitution of India and all applicable media statutes.
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The New Criminal Codes: Full compliance with the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
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IT Act & Digital Media Rules: Strict adherence to the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the updated Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
3. Accuracy, Transparency, and Human Verification
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Mandatory Verification: We actively reject the publication of inaccurate, baseless, or distorted material. Pre-publication fact-checking is mandatory for every story.
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AI and Technology Ethics: Our newsroom utilizes AI-assisted tools for rapid research and data structuring, but we enforce a rigid “Human-in-the-Loop” policy. No article goes live without aggressive editing and factual verification by our senior editorial board.
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Synthetic Media: We clearly label all AI-generated imagery or synthetic media (e.g., “Representative Image” or “AI-Generated”) to ensure our readers are never misled.
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Anti-Defamation: Our journalists must avoid defamatory content, ensuring strict compliance with applicable civil and criminal statutes.
4. Right of Reply and Corrections
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Incorporating Responses: News reports containing allegations must feature comments, responses, or rebuttals from the subject involved.
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Tracking Developments: When stories evolve, we publish updates featuring clear, visible timestamps to keep our audience accurately informed.
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Take-Down Policy: If valid documentation proves a published report false, the editorial desk will edit, retract, or remove the content immediately.
5. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
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Copyright Protection: We respect the copyright of texts, photographs, and graphics. Our team must secure prior permission before reproducing copyrighted material from external agencies.
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Trademarks: Third-party trademarks appear only when permitted or when their use strictly qualifies as “fair use” under the law.
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Infringement Claims: Upon receipt of a valid legal request regarding copyright violations, we will promptly edit or remove the infringing content.
6. Sensitive Reporting and Privacy
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Presumption of Innocence: Crime reporting must remain unbiased, factual, and legally precise, respecting the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
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Vulnerable Subjects: We mandate extreme caution when reporting on child abuse, sexual assault, or communal violence. The newsroom strictly forbids publishing identifying details of victims, complying fully with the POCSO Act and Supreme Court guidelines.
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Communal Harmony: Reporters must exercise restraint and thoroughly verify facts to promote peace and avoid inciting violence.
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Judicial Matters: Court proceedings require highly accurate reporting, free from personal editorializing.
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Privacy: We respect individual privacy rights, particularly for citizens who are not public figures.
7. Grievance Redressal Mechanism
Doon Horizon fully complies with the grievance redressal framework mandated by the IT Rules, 2021.
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Grievance Officer: We maintain an active Grievance Officer, with contact details prominently displayed on our Contact Us page.
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Resolution Timelines: Our desk acknowledges formal complaints within 24 hours and guarantees a resolution within 15 days of receipt.
8. Training and Legal Awareness
Doon Horizon routinely conducts rigorous training modules for all editorial staff. These sessions cover the Constitution, the new Criminal Codes (BNS/BNSS), the POCSO Act, and copyright laws, ensuring our journalists maintain the highest legal and ethical reporting standards in the industry.
