CONNECT
The following board approved policies govern Connecticut News Project / Connecticut Mirror operations and decision-making:
News and Editorial Independence Policy:
The Connecticut News Project, Inc. (CNP) is a nonstock, nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Connecticut and recognized as such by the United States Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. CNP (which does business as the Connecticut Mirror or CT Mirror), publishes news and information about state and public policy in Connecticut that is fair, accurate and reflects the standards for editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News and the Society of Professional Journalists.
CNP’s news and editorial staff has and retains full authority over news and editorial content of CNP’s reporting and publications to protect the best journalistic interests of CNP and the public.
CNP may accept gifts, grants, sponsorships and advertisements from individuals and organizations for the general support of its activities. CNP also may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics. However, the news and editorial judgments of CNP’s staff are made independently and not on the basis of donor, sponsor, foundation or advertiser support or the involvement of CNP’s Board of Directors. CNP will cede no right of review or influence of news and editorial content.
Acceptance of financial support or advertisements by CNP does not constitute its implied or actual endorsement of foundations, donors, sponsors, advertisers, their products, services or opinions. CNP may decline to accept financial support or advertising if, in the opinion of the Publisher, such support or advertising may be perceived as implied or actual endorsement of the donor, sponsor or advertiser, their products, services or opinions, or as an endorsement of public officials or candidates for public office.
The CNP Board of Directors share a belief that vigorous coverage of government and public policy is essential to the common good. It is that belief, rather than a commitment to any particular cause, that leads them to contribute their time and expertise to CNP. In furtherance of this policy, the Board of Directors of CNP exercises no role in shaping news or editorial coverage and each board member adheres to the organization’s news and editorial independence policy. Board members, however, may share a commitment to public service through their work in various other nonprofit and educational organizations.
A copy of CNP’s News and Editorial Independence Policy shall be provided to those individuals and organizations who wish to offer gifts, grants, sponsorships or advertisements to CNP or The Connecticut Mirror.
Diversity Policy:
The Connecticut News Project (CNP) believes journalism is most powerful when it reflects the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences of all people of Connecticut. Diversity encompasses differences in race, ethnicity, gender, language, age, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, political perspective, geographic coverage, physical and mental ability, thinking styles, experience, and education. CNP aspires to, and will aggressively seek, board and staff diversity, diverse newsmakers and interviewees, topics of interest to diverse audiences, and diversity of voices on the Viewpoints opinion page.
Funding Acceptance Policy:
The Connecticut News Project, doing business as the Connecticut Mirror on CTMirror.org (collectively, CNP), is committed to transparency in every aspect of its funding. To that end, its routine practice will be to publicly disclose the identity of individuals and organizations that donate or provide grants or sponsorships to CNP or for any of its operations or activities and to publicly disclose the amount of donations, in general categories, provided by each donor, grantor, or sponsor.
CNP will, however, accept anonymous gifts, grants and sponsorships and publicly disclose them as “anonymous” if requested and if in the opinion of CNP’s Publisher, such anonymous funding would not impair, or be perceived as impairing, the news and editorial independence or integrity of CNP.
In addition, CNP will not actively solicit funding from any political parties, political or political action committees, and the like, or from any elected officials or candidates actively seeking public office. The Publisher may refuse any gift at his or her discretion, if the Publisher believes that gift would impair, or be perceived as impairing, the news and editorial independence or integrity of CNP.
The Publisher will inform the CNP Board of Directors of funding in the form of securities. Donations of real property will be accepted only with the affirmative concurrence of the CNP Board of Directors.