PNC Policies
Editorial Independence
Pro News Coaches subscribes to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News:
The organizations we coach, advise and edit for retain full authority over their editorial content. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions at the organizations we coach and advise and all sources of our revenue. Our acceptance of financial support and their acceptance of our coaching and advice does not constitute their implied or actual endorsement of our donors or their products, services or opinions.
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but the news judgments of the organizations we coach and advise are made independently – not on the basis of our donor support.
The organizations we coach and advise maintain editorial control of their own coverage. They, not us nor our donors, hold ultimate control over their editorial content and its distribution.
Our organization will make public all donors who give a total of $5,000 or more per year. We will not accept any donations from donors whose names we don’t know.
Donor Transparency
Pro News Coaches is committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.
Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse our donors or their products, services or opinions.
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our general operations and special projects, both internal and outward-facing. We have applied to the IRS for an exemption as a 501(c)(3) organization. We currently can collect tax-deductible donations to PNC through our fiscal sponsor, Local Media Foundation. We may receive funds from standard government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses.
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The news judgments of the organizations we coach, advise and edit for are made independently. They are not based on or influenced by our donors or any revenue source. Our supporters do not have any rights to assign, review or edit content.
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We make public all revenue sources and donors who give $5,000 or more per year. As a news-related nonprofit, we avoid accepting charitable donations from anonymous sources, government entities, political parties, elected officials or candidates seeking public office. We will not accept donations from sources who are deemed by our board of directors to present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.
Conflicts
of Interest
Pro News Coaches directors, officers and key personnel are obligated to conduct the affairs of the organization in line with its charitable purposes to provide pro bono editing, coaching, mentoring, convening of workshops and other services to local news organizations, and not to advance their personal interests.
We expect directors, officers and personnel to strive to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, while balancing that goal against the knowledge that these individuals at all levels are volunteering their time. Because of each individual’s varied interests and community ties, their work for PNC may from time to time result in circumstances involving real or apparent conflicts of interests.
All directors, officers and key personnel should take care to disclose to PNC transactions or proposed transactions that might be considered a related-party transaction; should not accept gifts, favors, etc., from proposed transaction partners; should not give gifts except those that are consistent with proper business ethics; and should complete a disclosure statement annually.
We expect all directors, officers and key personnel to be familiar with the above PNC policies and all others that govern such potential conflicts; to identify, evaluate and address any ties that may call into question their loyalty to PNC; to protect the interests of PNC in the event that it enters into transactions that might benefit any individual’s private interests; and to assist us in avoiding and resolving any conflicts of interest.
Corrections
Pro News Coaches partners with news organizations who need our coaching, advising, mentoring and editing help. The organizations we advise retain full authority over their editorial content, including responsibility for making timely and clear corrections when an article is found to be in error.
We fully support their work and will make all efforts to assist them in correcting and clarifying any erroneous content that our advisers have been involved with.