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.

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What is the legal definition of a news organization?

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