Editorial Policy

Editorial Policy of Daily Times of Bangladesh

Editorial Independence: Daily Times of Bangladesh is committed to maintaining the highest professional standards in safeguarding editorial independence. All decisions regarding what to report, how to report it, and when to publish will be made solely by the editorial team — free from external influence by ownership, government bodies, advertisers, or any other vested interests.

This principle ensures that our journalism is driven by ethical responsibility and the public interest, not by political, ideological, or commercial agenda. Upholding this independence is essential to earning and retaining the trust of our readers. To ensure these: Daily Times of Bangladesh will ensure:

  1. Separation of news coverage from editorial opinions
  2. News coverage will not be linked to anyway to commercials
  3. All paid contents should be clearly mentioned
  4. Do not accept gifts, favors or payments that could influence coverage.
  5. Ensure columnists and opinion writers express views that are their own and not the official stance of the newspaper.
  6. Online content should maintain the same ethical and accuracy standards as print
  7. Clearly mark updates or corrections, if any, in digital articles
  8. Avoid sharing unverified information on social media
  9. Readers should have an accessible way to report errors or request corrections
  10. Corrections should be clearly labeled and published promptly

Accuracy & Verification: Trust in the authenticity and reliability of our sources is paramount. In an era of rapid digital communication and a fast-paced news cycle, verification poses unique challenges. This is why healthy scepticism must be the default approach—especially when dealing with information from web-based or email sources.

We must be persistent in seeking solid corroboration and transparent about the level of verification we’ve achieved. Under no circumstances should we present as fact any information derived from a source we cannot authenticate.  When applicable, we should disclose the medium through which an interview was conducted to maintain transparency with our readers.  Ensuring the credibility of sources is a shared responsibility—not only of reporters and correspondents, but also of desk editors and sub-editors. Sub-editors, in particular, should feel empowered to question the reliability of any information they review.

Upholding these standards is crucial to preserving the integrity and trustworthiness of journalism. Therefore:

  1. All facts must be verified from credible sources before publication, use at least two independent sources for critical or controversial claims.
  2. Daily Times of Bangladesh must exercise utmost care to avoid publishing inaccurate, misleading, or distorted information—including images and visual content.
  3. If a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement, or distortion is identified, it must be corrected promptly and with appropriate prominence. Where necessary, a formal apology should be issued.
  4. While publications are free to hold partisan views, they must clearly distinguish between comment, conjecture, and factual reporting to avoid misleading the audience.
  5. Any publication involved in a defamation case must report the outcome fairly and accurately, unless an agreed settlement or official statement provides otherwise.

Fairness and Balance:

The more serious the criticism or allegations we are reporting the greater the obligation to allow the subject the opportunity to respond. And, therefore we must follow:

  1. All sides of a story must be fairly represented.
  2. Avoid bias in language, tone, and story placement
  3. Clearly label opinion pieces, editorials, and advertisements.

Objectivity & Independence: Objectivity in journalism is rooted in the principle of empowering audiences to form their own judgments by presenting the facts clearly, accurately, and without bias. Journalists must report the truth, regardless of whether they personally agree with or support the information being presented. Maintaining objectivity requires a commitment to neutrality — portraying events and issues without allowing personal beliefs, preferences, or opinions to influence the narrative. The goal is not to shape public opinion, but to inform it through fair, balanced, and impartial reporting. Therefore, we must:

  1. Not allow personal beliefs or affiliations to influence reporting.
  2. Avoid conflicts of interest—reporters must not cover topics where they have financial or personal involvement.
  3. Editorial decisions must not be influenced by advertisers or political interests.

Transparency and Sources: Journalists have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of information in certain circumstances. Therefore, we will:

  1. a) Use anonymous sources only when necessary, and explain why they must remain unnamed.
  2. b) Attribute all quotes and data to their sources.
  3. c) Disclose clearly if using AI-generated or external content.

 Language and Style: In terms of language (in Bangla and English) and style we will:

  1. a) Follow a consistent style guide (we must develop and update our own style nuggets)
  2. b) Avoid inflammatory language, stereotypes,
  3. c) Maintain clarity, brevity, and readability for a broad audience.

Non-discrimination:  Daily Times of Bangladesh follows a policy of journalism without discrimination. Therefore we:

  1. Must avoid all forms of prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual’s race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any physical or mental illness or disability.
  2. Reference to such characteristics should only be made when they are genuinely relevant to the context of the story and necessary for accurate, responsible reporting.

Plagiarism and Copyright: To uphold integrity, journalists must practice thorough attribution and rigorous fact-checking. This includes maintaining accurate notes, verifying all sources, and clearly crediting original creators. Ethical journalism goes beyond mere legal compliance; it demands fairness to original authors, transparency with readers, and a steadfast commitment to original, independent reporting. Daily Times of Bangladesh is committed to strictly maintain its contents — texts, images, infographics and audiovisuals- to be proper. Therefore, we must ensure:

  1. All content must be original or properly attributed
  2. Not reproduce copyrighted material without permission

Sensitivity: Reporting on sensitive subjects requires not only journalistic integrity but also deep empathy, careful research, and a conscious effort to minimize harm. Journalists must approach such topics with compassion, accuracy, and respect for the dignity and privacy of those affected. Ethical reporting demands that we weigh the public’s right to know against the potential impact on individuals and communities—striving always to inform without exploiting. Daily Times of Bangladesh will keep in mind while reporting:

Crime

  1. Relatives or friends of individuals who have been accused or convicted of a crime should not be identified without their consent, unless their involvement is genuinely relevant to the story and serves a clear public interest.
  2. Special care must be taken when reporting on children who are victims of, or witnesses to, crime. Their privacy and emotional vulnerability must be respected. However, this consideration should not unduly restrict the right to report on legal proceedings, provided reporting is responsible and within legal bounds.

Victims of Sexual Assault

  1. We must not identify victims of sexual assault, nor publish any material that could lead to their identification, unless it is legally permissible to do so.
  2. The utmost care should be taken to protect the privacy, dignity, and safety of survivors at all times.

Children in Sex Offence Cases:

  • We must not identify, even when legally permitted, any child under the age of 18 who is a victim or witness in cases involving sexual offences.
  • In reporting cases involving sexual offences against children:
    1. The identity of the child must not be revealed in any manner.
    2. ii) The accused adult may be named, provided it does not lead to the identification of the child.

iii) The term “incest” must not be used if there is any risk that it could lead to the child’s identification.

  1. iv) Extreme care must be taken to ensure that nothing in the report implies or reveals the relationship between the accused and the child.

Suicide

  1. Daily Times of Bangladesh must exercise particular sensitivity and caution when reporting on suicide or suicide-related issues, keeping in mind the potential risk of encouraging imitative behavior.
  2. Special care should be taken in both the presentation of the story—including headlines and images—and in the description of the method used. Where possible, references to substances or means should remain general rather than specific.
  3. The feelings and privacy of the bereaved must be considered with compassion and respect throughout the reporting process.

Daily Times of Bangladesh will avoid gratuitous violence, graphic imagery, or sensationalism.

Update and Amendments: The editorial team will regularly review journalistic practices to maintain high standards. The editorial guidelines will be updated from time to time as required.