Policies and standards of LB.ua

This document describes the rules and principles that are binding on LB.ua employees. It is our own code of conduct and a tool for public accountability to our readers. 

For over 14 years, LB.ua has been a reliable and trusted source of information for its readers. Responsibility to the audience is our top priority. 

Our mission is to inform and facilitate understanding of events and issues of public interest. 

We recognize the impact of the media on the life of the country and individual citizens. That is why we approach our work with maximum responsibility and the medical principle of doing no harm! 

Our editorial team prioritizes the quality and value of the information we publish. We strive to understand complex issues and phenomena to give our readers a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the situation. 

The credo of the editorial office is that we care. We try not to be indifferent to social problems and the needs of its individual parts, and we try to defend the positions and beliefs that we consider correct. 

1. Honesty 

2. Responsibility to society 

3. Openness

4. Justice 

5. Accuracy 

6. Independence 

7. Impartiality 

LB.ua publishes content in various formats: news, reports, interviews, journalistic texts, expert materials, polls, etc. 

We apply the following quality criteria when preparing them: 

We only publish information that has been verified by the editorial staff, confirmed by at least two independent sources, or has the status of an official statement from a legitimate institution. 

We always indicate who the source of the information is. 

We report people's statements verbatim or paraphrase them without distorting the meaning. Taking phrases out of context is unacceptable. 

 We do not consider "generalist experts", anonymous channels and communities, or individual social media users who do not have a legitimate status regarding the event/news to be a reliable source of information. 

We do not use unconfirmed generalizations such as "Ukrainians are outraged." 

If we have made a mistake that affects the context, we will notify you of the correction, clarification, or retraction.

We strive to inform about events, decisions, phenomena and problems that are important for our audience, society as a whole or its individual parts. 

We also recognize that time is the most valuable resource in the modern world, so we offer our readers only the really important and, most importantly, verified information, only the news that really matters. 

We do not aim to get the maximum number of views through "yellow" content, do not clog the information space with it and thus do not steal time from our readers. 

The LB.ua editorial board consistently adheres to the principle of balanced reporting in situations where a balance of positions is necessary. The audience has the right to know alternative positions and assessments when they are available. 

 If a person or organization declines to comment, we indicate this fact in the text. 

In controversial issues, we ensure that different views are reflected, taking into account their relevance to the discussion and the extent to which they are common. 

At the same time, we try to avoid artificial balance or "quota representation" of positions on topics that, in our opinion, do not require it. A simple example for understanding: we do not consider the position of those opposed to vaccination to be presented as an "alternative point of view". This is contrary to both the public interest and common sense. 

LB.ua also strives to be an important platform for dialogue between civil society, the government, the expert community, business, politicians, individual social groups, etc. - even if their position does not coincide with our vision, but is in the public interest. 

The right to respond. People whom we have accused of something have the right to respond. 

LB.ua informs its readers as much as possible about the sources of information in its materials so that they can know how and from where we got the information. The audience should also be informed about the reliability of the sources. 

When presenting the position of the sides, we indicate the circumstances that may influence or determine such position, if any, and are known to us. 

 In some cases, we are forced to use information while allowing the sources to remain unnamed. However, we try not to overuse this tool. The journalist is obliged to inform the editor of the identity of unnamed sources used in the article so that the editorial staff can assess the appropriateness of their use and possible risks. When using unnamed sources, we must provide the reader with information on how these sources are involved in the topic. 

If the content is created with the help of external funding, this fact will be disclosed to the audience. 

Advertising content on the website is always labeled accordingly.

When informing the audience, we must answer four basic questions: what happened, when it happened, where it happened and under what circumstances. When analyzing events, phenomena or problems, we must also answer the questions of why it happened or is happening now and what consequences it will have. 

Context is important. To understand the circumstances, the reader must understand what preceded, who the persons in question are or were. 

We don't mislead the reader, consciously or unconsciously, by trying to hide important aspects of the topic we are writing about. No story is honest if it lacks information that matters. 

6. Impartiality. 

We are aware that everyone has their own views and preferences, and journalists are no exception, but these views and beliefs should not distort the accuracy of the information presented, influence the choice of the angle of its presentation, or the persons commenting on a phenomenon or event. 

The editorial board realizes that there is no such thing as absolute, sterile objectivity, but a journalist should not demonstrate his or her own bias in his or her texts, nor should he or she give his or her own assessment of phenomena, events or individuals, unless such assessments complement the context. 

Important: the principle of impartiality is inappropriate in cases where human dignity, freedom, and the rule of law are at stake. We also reject this principle in relation to the Russian aggression against our country, which is a direct threat to all Ukrainian citizens, their lives, dignity, and freedom. 

LB.ua journalists and the editorial staff in general can express their own position in the relevant sections of the publication (Opinion, Blogs).

7. Separation of facts from opinions.

We welcome our own position, assessments, and judgments in the author's materials published in the relevant sections of the publication ("Opinion", "Blogs") or with a note that the material is the subjective vision of the author. 

Events in the modern world are developing dynamically, so it is appropriate and correct to supplement and clarify published news and articles. If such an addition or clarification is significant, we will inform our readers about it in the headline. 

We also try to correct mistakes as soon as possible. 

If the correction affects the context, the assessment of an event or phenomenon, we make sure to inform our readers about it in the headline. We also indicate what exactly was incorrectly stated. 

The refutation of published information is possible if the subject in question has provided convincing evidence that the information provided was false and such evidence has been verified by the editorial board. Refutation of information is also possible by court decision. 

In accordance with our editorial policy, we do not remove information from the site, unless the published information may endanger human life or health. 

If you see any inaccurate information on the pages, or if it does not comply with the journalistic principles set out in the Policy and Standards, you can contact the editorial office at [email protected]. We will check the information and, if necessary, make clarifications or corrections. 

Interviews are one of the most important genres for us. The current Law of Ukraine "On Information" does not provide for the need to coordinate the text of an interview with the person who gave it. However, we give the person the right to ask for a verification of the interview in order to correct factual errors and inaccuracies. It happens that in the conversation, a person did not express themselves quite accurately, made a mistake in numbers or facts. Reconciliation is a chance to correct such mistakes. 

We send the text in the form of questions and answers to the respondent for authorization (without a headline, lead, and images - this is the sole prerogative of the editorial staff). 

What should not be done when verifying interviews? 

- Change the style of the text by rewriting it in your own way. 

- The respondent cannot delete his or her words during the interview. If they made an inaccuracy, they could correct it. Or clarify what they meant. 

- During the verification, the respondent cannot change or delete the journalist's questions and their answers or make changes that distort the meaning of the content. 

If the interviewee delays proofreading the text for more than five days, the editorial staff reserves the right to publish the interview without editing it. 

In its work, the editorial board adheres to the principles set forth in the Declaration of Principles of Journalistic Conduct of the International Federation of Journalists and the Code of Ethics of Ukrainian Journalists, which, in particular, provide for

- serving the interests of society, not the government or the founders;

- respect for the private life of a person. This right may be violated if the public importance of the information collected and disseminated by a journalist is higher than the private interests of the person; 

- a journalist cannot call a person a criminal until a court decision is issued;

- rejection of illegal methods of obtaining information;

- intolerance to plagiarism;

- prohibition of discrimination on the basis of gender, language, race, religion, national, regional or social origin, or political preferences;

- refraining from allusions or comments about a person's physical disabilities or illnesses, and avoiding offensive language;

- a ban on journalists receiving material rewards or any benefits for completed or uncompleted journalistic material;

- observance of special reservations when covering topics related to children. It is unacceptable to disclose the names of minors (or indicate the signs by which they can be recognized) who were involved in illegal actions or participated in events related to violence;

- warning the reader about content related to violence or that may offend someone's feelings. 

The editorial board adheres to the principle of non-interference in people's private lives. Any information relating to the private life or health of a non-public person may be used and disclosed only with the consent of that person. This principle does not apply to persons with public authority (politically exposed person) and their family members in cases related to their influence on public and political life, their income and expenses.

A person's reputation is also part of the right to privacy. 

Information related to health, addresses, paternity, and sexual relations also belongs to the sphere of private life. 

Information that could put a person in danger cannot be made public. 

The Law of Ukraine "On Information" defines the subject of public interest as information that indicates a threat to state sovereignty, territorial integrity of Ukraine; ensures the exercise of constitutional rights, freedoms and obligations; indicates the possibility of human rights violations, misleading the public, harmful environmental and other negative consequences of activities (inactivity) of individuals or legal entities. 

We are convinced that the public interest is best served by comprehensive information about the subject matter of such interest.

At the same time, the principle of public interest should be limited in cases where disclosure of information may cause significant harm to these interests or the harm from disclosure of such information outweighs the public interest in obtaining it. 

LB.ua uses social media platforms as a tool for communicating with the audience, adhering to the same standards and ethical principles as the publication's website. 

We cannot influence the content of our employees' personal pages unless their publications contradict our ethical principles and therefore may harm LB.ua's reputation. 

Anyone with an impeccable professional reputation and no conflict of interest in their work as a journalist can become an employee of LB.ua. 

We always apply inclusive hiring practices that exclude discrimination on any grounds. 

We also adhere to the principle of equal opportunities for editorial staff in our daily activities. 

LB.ua's editorial team studies the best journalistic practices and tries to apply them in its work. We encourage the acquisition of new experience by our employees and stimulate their development.

We also provide training for our employees on how to work ethically and adhere to our content quality standards. 

In cases involving potential conflicts of interest, as well as cases involving possible ethical and legal risks, the editorial board conducts pre-publication legal review of content with the help of a legal service independent of LB.ua. 

LB.ua employees can also contact an independent legal service for legal advice when preparing materials. 

We consider the safety of our journalists to be of paramount importance. Our commitment to journalistic excellence is inseparable from our responsibility to ensure that our reporters, correspondents, and staff operate in an environment that prioritizes their safety. 

The safety of our journalists is non-negotiable. We will provide necessary resources, training, and support to minimize risks associated with their assignments. Journalists should be equipped with appropriate safety gear and guidance when reporting from potentially hazardous situations. 

We take all threats against our journalists seriously. In the event of any perceived danger, we will take immediate action, which may include reevaluating the assignment, providing security measures, or involving local authorities if necessary. 

In the digital age, we recognize the importance of safeguarding our journalists' online presence. We will offer guidance and tools to protect their digital identities and ensure their cyber safety. 

We encourage collaboration with reputable organizations and advocacy groups that support journalist safety. 

Journalism can be emotionally taxing. We prioritize the mental health of our journalists and will provide access to counseling and support resources as needed. 

We will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment within our organization. We are dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful work environment. 

In the unfortunate event of an incident affecting our journalists, we are committed to providing accurate and transparent information to the public while respecting the privacy and safety of our team members. 

These guidelines will be regularly reviewed and updated to adapt to evolving new challenges. We encourage feedback from our journalists to ensure their voices are heard in shaping the policies and standards.