Journalistic Standards and Practices

IV. PRODUCTION STANDARDS

A: INFORMATION GATHERING

12. PRESERVATION OF NEWS MATERIAL

Our newsgathering operations encompass a broad range of programs with widely varying objectives, and generate enormous volumes of radio, television and Web content.

Greater still is the amount of material needed to produce this content. It is therefore essential that we adopt a basic policy regarding the mandatory preservation of news material, specifically in the area of investigative reporting.

All production material must be preserved upon receipt of a formal notice (legal complaint) so as to comply with rules regarding the preservation of evidence.

In all other cases, each program shall work with management to develop a preservation policy appropriate to its situation. When the Law Department is consulted and evaluates that specific material should be preserved, it shall advise the program's supervisor accordingly, specifying the length of time said material should be maintained.