What is the legal definition of a news organization?

In Washington, a news organization is defined as a business, individual or group primarily engaged in the gathering and reporting of news. A news organization must be independent and nonpartisan and must not be affiliated with any political party, government agency or special interest group. It must also not be used as a platform for the promotion of any particular viewpoint. The news must focus on facts, not opinion. Reporting must be thorough and include sources and interviews. News organizations must have a public accountability process, meaning they must accept responsibility for any mistakes and make sure corrections are accurately and promptly published. Finally, news organizations should strive for objectivity, accuracy and fairness in all of their reporting. This means that journalists must refrain from any activities that might produce a biased report, including but not limited to accepting gifts from sources, paying sources for information and engaging in advertising or public relations activities.

Related FAQs

How is media used to influence political campaigns?
What are the different types of media regulation?
What legal protection is available to journalists?
What is the privacy law?
What rights do journalists have?
What is the difference between libel and slander?
What restrictions are placed on foreign media owners?
What are the rules for obtaining permission to air copyrighted material?
How are public relations and the media related?
How do the media and the courts interact?

What is the legal definition of a news organization?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts