Purpose:
This policy ensures that Rescue Our Democracy (ROD) operates with integrity, transparency, and editorial independence. Consequently, we actively prevent financial or personal interests from affecting our decisions.
Scope
This policy applies to:
- All staff, volunteers, and contributors
- Leadership and board members (when formed)
- Anyone involved in decisions about content, partnerships, or finances
In addition, all parties must review and acknowledge this policy annually. Moreover, new contributors receive training on these standards before participating in editorial or organizational decisions.
Policy Guidelines
1. Financial Conflicts
- Staff and contributors must not accept gifts, payments, or favors that could influence editorial decisions.
- Furthermore, ROD publicly discloses all donations and partnerships to avoid any perception of bias.
2. Personal or Professional Conflicts
- Staff must recuse themselves immediately from decisions involving personal relationships or outside interests that conflict with ROD’s mission.
- As a result, leadership documents and reviews any potential conflicts each year.
3. Editorial Independence
- ROD controls all content independently.
- Thus, no funding, partnership, or volunteer activity can dictate reporting, educational content, or advocacy priorities.
- Similarly, editorial decisions remain guided solely by the organization’s mission and values.
4. Transparency & Accountability
- ROD records all conflicts and recusal decisions internally.
- Staff and contributors report any concerns promptly to leadership.
- Therefore, a public summary assures supporters and the community that decisions remain impartial and mission-focused.
- Moreover, this process strengthens public trust and ensures ongoing accountability.
Contact
In addition, we encourage readers to provide feedback on how we maintain integrity and transparency.
Summary:
ROD actively enforces this policy to maintain trust, prevent undue influence, and ensure that every editorial and organizational decision supports our mission to strengthen democracy. Consequently, our readers and supporters can rely on our transparency and commitment to facts.