Ethics and Corrections

LOOKOUT goes by ethical and style guidance set by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association, along with the Trans Journalists Association. In situations where ethics or style is not determined by those groups, we defer to AP style for all editorial decisions.

​All of our stories go through a thorough fact-checking and review for journalistic standards and accurate information. If, by chance, there are pieces of information that we missed or reported incorrectly, please feel free to bring it to our attention.

For corrections on any of our stories, please email: editor@lookoutphx.org

ETHICS

PREAMBLE: 

LOOKOUT believes in the primary ethic of journalism to do no harm. Journalism is a profession that requires time, resources and the means to practice, all of which are essential to its independence. The following guidelines help us achieve our mission and vision:

OUR CORE PRINCIPLES

• The duty of journalism is to the truth. 
• To that end, LOOKOUT expects all of our journalists to defend the principles of freedom in the honest collection and publication of news, and of the right of fair comment and criticism. 
• LOOKOUT follows where the truth leads, and does so using fair and transparent methods to obtain information, images, documents and data. 
• The notion of urgency or immediacy in the dissemination of information shall not take precedence over the verification of facts, sources and/or the offer of a reply.
• LOOKOUT will make honest and transparent efforts to rectify any errors in reporting, including publishing corrections within stories. For corrections or issues with stories on the LOOKOUT website, magazine, or newsletters, please contact editor@lookoutphx.org
• LOOKOUT respects the privacy of sources, especially within the queer community. When we use anonymous sources, journalists are required to verify the individual claims through rigorous due diligence.
• LOOKOUT believes that one of the many roles of journalism is to counter bigotry and prejudice, and will avoid dissemination of information that contributes to hatred or prejudice against people based on geography, social or ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, disability, political and other opinions.
• LOOKOUT staff or freelancers found to be in violation of serious professional misconduct, including plagiarism, distortion of facts, or slander, libel, defamation or unfounded accusations are eligible for dismissal.  
• LOOKOUT and abides by 501(c)(3) guidance in messaging and disclosure of funding sources.  
• As a nonpartisan newsroom, LOOKOUT will never make endorsements of political candidates or groups.

Conflict of Interest Policy

The following Financial Conflict of Interest Policy (“Conflict of Interest Policy”) is an effort (i) to ensure that the deliberations and decisions of LOOKOUT Publications (“LOOKOUT”) are made solely in the interest of promoting the quality of journalism in the state of Arizona (if applicable), and (ii) to protect the interests of LOOKOUT when it considers any transaction, contract, or arrangement that might benefit or be perceived to benefit the private interest of a person affiliated with LOOKOUT (each, a “LOOKOUT Representative”). As used in this Conflict of Interest Policy, a LOOKOUT Representative includes any director, advisory board member, financial advisor, legal counsel or employee.

Duty to LOOKOUT.

Each LOOKOUT Representative owes a duty to LOOKOUT to advance LOOKOUT’s legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises. Each LOOKOUT Representative must give undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization. Similarly, LOOKOUT Representatives must be faithful to LOOKOUT’s nonprofit mission and are not permitted to act in a way that is inconsistent with the central goals of the organization and its nonprofit status.

Gifts.

No LOOKOUT Representative shall personally accept gifts or favors that could compromise his or her loyalty to LOOKOUT. Any gifts or benefits personally accepted from a party having a material interest in the outcome of LOOKOUT or its employees by a LOOKOUT Representative individually should be merely incidental to his or her role as an LOOKOUT Representative and should not be of substantial value. Any gift with a value of $250 or more, or any gifts with a cumulative value in excess of $250 received by an LOOKOUT Representative in any twelve-month period from a single source, shall be considered substantial. Cash payments may not be accepted, and no gifts should be accepted if there are strings attached. For example, no LOOKOUT Representative may accept gifts if he or she knows that such gifts are being given to solicit his or her support of or opposition to the outcome or content of any LOOKOUT publication.

Conflicts of Interest.

The following are examples of conflicts of interest which must be promptly disclosed to the LOOKOUT Board of Directors pursuant to Section 4 below by any LOOKOUT Representative with knowledge of such conflict of interest:

(a) any real or apparent conflict of interest between a donor or the subject of an LOOKOUT publication or report and a LOOKOUT Representative;

(b) a LOOKOUT Representative’s ownership of an equity interest in a person or entity that is or will be the subject of an LOOKOUT publication or report; and

(c) failure to disclose to LOOKOUT all relationships between the subject of any LOOKOUT publication or report and any LOOKOUT Representative or close relatives of the LOOKOUT Representative.

Conflict Procedure:

(a) If a LOOKOUT Representative or party related to a LOOKOUT Representative has an interest in any contract, action or transaction to be entered into with LOOKOUT, a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists. Any LOOKOUT Representative having knowledge that such a conflict of interest exists or may exist (an “Interested LOOKOUT Representative”) will so advise the Board of Directors promptly. An Interested LOOKOUT Representative will include in the notice the material facts as to the relationship or interest of the Interested LOOKOUT Representative in the entity proposing to enter into a contract, action or transaction with LOOKOUT.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board of Directors may authorize any committee appointed pursuant to the LOOKOUT by-laws (a “Committee”) to act in lieu of the Board of Directors in determining whether an action, contract or transaction is fair to LOOKOUT as of the time it is authorized or approved by the Committee.

(c) At any time that a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest is identified, the President of the Board or a Chair of the applicable Committee will ensure that such conflict of interest is placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Board of Directors or the Committee, as applicable. The notice of such meeting of the Board of Directors or the Committee, as applicable, will include, to the extent available when the notice is sent, a description of the conflict of interest matter to be discussed. By notice before the meeting or at the meeting, the directors on the board or the Committee, as applicable, will be advised that a vote will be taken at the meeting and that, in order to authorize the relevant contract, action or transaction, an affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested directors present at the meeting at which a quorum is present will be required and will be sufficient, even though the disinterested directors constitute less than a quorum of the Board of Directors or the Committee.

(d) Reasonable effort will be made to cause the material facts concerning the relationships between the individuals and LOOKOUT which create the conflict to be delivered to and shared with the members of the Board of Directors or the Committee, as applicable, prior to the meeting to enable the directors to arrive at the meeting prepared to discuss the issue. In the event it is not practicable to deliver the information prior to the meeting, it will be delivered to the directors at the meeting, and the directors can act upon the matter with the same authority as if notice had been given prior to the meeting.

(e) The Board of Directors or the Committee, as applicable, will invite all parties to the conflict of interest to attend the meeting, to make presentations and to be prepared to answer questions, if necessary. The Board or Directors or the Committee, as applicable, will also invite outside experts if necessary.

(f) At the meeting, providing a quorum is present, the conflict will be discussed to ensure that the directors present are aware of the issues and the factors involved. The interested directors may be counted for purposes of a quorum, even though they may not take part in any vote on the issues.

(g) The Board of Directors or the Committee, as applicable, must decide, in good faith, reasonably justified by the material facts, whether the action, contract or transaction would be in the best interest of LOOKOUT and fair to LOOKOUT as of the time it is authorized or approved.

(h) All interested directors must abstain from voting and, if necessary, leave the room when the vote is taken.

(i) The Board of Directors or the Committee, as applicable, will maintain a written account of all that transpires at the meeting and incorporate such account into the minutes of the meeting and disseminate it to the full Board of Directors. Such minutes will be presented for approval at the next meeting of the Board of Directors and maintained in the corporate record book.

(j) To the extent that the conflict of interest is continuing and the contract, action or transaction goes beyond one (1) year, the foregoing notice and discussion and vote will be repeated on an annual basis.

Personal Loans.

LOOKOUT may not loan to, or guarantee the personal obligations of, any LOOKOUT Representative.

Transparency

We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.

Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics and special projects. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as a public trust, we do not pay certain taxes. We may receive funds from standard government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses.

Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content.

We make public all revenue sources and donors who give $5,000 or more per year. As a news nonprofit, we avoid accepting charitable donations from anonymous sources, government entities, political parties, elected officials or candidates seeking public office. We will not accept donations from sources who, deemed by our board of directors, present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.

LOOKOUT STYLE GUIDANCE:

LOOKOUT follows the guidance of the Trans Journalists Association and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association style guides. Both of those guides can be found here and here, respectively.  

Below are select style references for our audience to understand and know:

biological sex

The phrase biological sex is common in scientific writing as a synonym for birth sex, natal sex, or assigned sex at birth. Outside of medical literature, assigned sex at birth is preferable over biological sex if used in this way.

cisgender

Refers to people whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth.

drag queen, female impersonator

Drag is the practice of dressing and acting in styles typically associated with another gender, usually exaggeratedly so and for entertainment value. Drag queens portray women and drag kings portray men. Drag performer is the gender-neutral term. Drag and impersonation are more strongly determined by the nature of the costume and performance than by the performer’s gender identity or sex. Drag is not synonymous with but is sometimes considered a type of male or female impersonation, in which performances may be spoofs of a specific person or character or may be more subdued than a drag performance. Not synonymous with transgender, though some drag performers may identify as such, or with cross-dresser. 

gender ideology

A charged term commonly deployed by anti-trans commentators and activists that implies trans people, merely by being trans, are participating in a political activity or have a political agenda. Refer instead to trans identity or simply being transgender. 

groomer, grooming

Refers to the practice of building trust and eroding boundaries to facilitate the sexual abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. Avoid using these terms, even in quotes, to portray LGBTQ+ people broadly as predators or as “recruiting” people, particularly children. If it is necessary to quote someone using this term, be clear about whether they are using it as a rhetorical device or if actual child abuse is alleged or proven; if the latter, add necessary details. See misleading associations below. 

false balance

Including opposing views in a story even when doing so is unnecessary or insensitive or would perpetuate falsehoods, or assuming there are only two sides to a story. Sometimes called bothsidesism. Just as journalists should not default to giving a platform to doubters of the scientifically established concept of climate change, they shouldn’t automatically give opponents of LGBTQ+ rights a voice unless it furthers the understanding of the issue or story. For instance, a story about legislation related to LGBTQ+ people could quote supporters, opponents and possibly the indifferent. A story about an LGBTQ+ awards ceremony, a hate crime or a person’s coming out usually does not require opposing comment.

lifestyle

An inaccurate term sometimes used to describe the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Sexual orientation may be part of a broader lifestyle but is not one in and of itself, just as there is no “straight” lifestyle.

misleading associations

Terms including bestiality, experimental, grooming, mutilation, pedophilia and sodomy are frequently false or defamatory when used in stories about LGBTQ+ issues.

transgender

Generally, transgender describes people whose gender identity and/or expression does not align with their sex assigned at birth. Journalists covering transgender people must ensure they correctly understand and communicate the parameters of the communities about which they are reporting. In news coverage, identify people as transgender only when relevant to the subject matter and only if they are widely known or describe themselves as such. Otherwise, describe trans men as men and trans women as women. People can be transgender regardless of age, but journalists should take the usual legal and ethical precautions when reporting on children.

For all other style, we follow Associated Press style guidance. For questions on why we describe things in certain ways, or the language we use, feel free to email us at editor@lookoutphx.org