Background
Our Editorial Policy is informed by three core principles:
- the ‘unexamined life is not worth living’
- we should act according to a well-informed conscience
- we should respect the intrinsic dignity of every person.
The application of these principles leads us to:
- create safe spaces in which people can explore a broad range of ethical issues and engage with the ethical dimension of questions arising in daily life
- publish a range of alternative perspectives – including those with which we might disagree.
We do this because we believe that better decision making will lead to a better world.
The Policy
Our editorial coverage will:
- remain staunchly ‘apolitical’ – willing to engage with all, without being partial to any
- exercise sound judgement – ensuring that the views published are reasonable, sincere and credible
- be respectful and fair to all concerned – ensuring that the published views of our contributors are not misrepresented. A commitment to ‘balance’ does not mean that every opinion will be published
- enable people to make informed decisions. That is, we will not seek to direct the thinking of our audience but, rather, assist them to think and act in good conscience
- be focused on the ethical dimension of each issue being addressed – rather than offer general coverage or perspectives
- be courageous in our selection of issues to be covered – including those deemed to be controversial or unpopular (the views expressed in published articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Ethics Centre)
- avoid publishing material that is ‘stuffy’, ‘sanctimonious’ or laced with ‘righteous indignation’. That is, we will address serious issues without taking ourselves too seriously
- remain independent from our board.
Generative AI guidelines
We are committed to delivering high-quality work within the limits of our resources and recognise the potential opportunities that AI technologies offer to enhance content creation and accessibility. We acknowledge that the use of AI technologies are not without risk and will require careful management to ensure we use these technologies responsibly and maintain or strengthen trust. Our use of AI adheres to the following guidelines:
- Generative AI may be used for campaign artwork, voice or audio-visual materials where appropriate. For example, synthetic voice technology may be used selectively for an audio explainer which would not otherwise have funding to be created
- The use of generative AI for images, voice or audio-visual materials will be disclosed to ensure transparency and openness
- Generative AI will not be used to write whole articles or to create, significantly modify, or fabricate real-life photos, videos, audio recordings or depictions of real people without their permission. Incidental use of AI tools within production processes (eg extending photo backgrounds to meet design requirements) is permitted, provided it does not materially alter the meaning, context or authenticity of the content. Any representation or documentation of actual events and spokespeople will accurately reflect what occurred and what was said
- We will not use AI in ways that could mislead audiences
- We will always consider the rights of creators, artists and rights-holders when using AI, and support the use of transparent licensing, contract and consent arrangements
- We will continue to assess and experiment with AI technologies as they evolve to identify opportunities for innovation and mitigate potential risks for audiences and the organisation.
Copyright & Republishing
Our published written, audio or visual content is available to be republished freely under our Creative Commons/No derivatives license. This means you can republish our written, audio or video content online or in print for free, provided you follow our republishing guidelines: https://ethics.org.au/republishing-guidelines/
Please contact us (communications@ethics.org.au) if you would like to use or license our materials in any other way.
