DNPA Code of Ethics Think Bengal

Think Bengal adopts and adheres to the DNPA Code of Ethics for Digital News Publishers and to the Digital Media Ethics Code under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Our editors also follow the Press Council of India’s Norms of Journalistic Conduct and the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, where applicable.

Below is the way we operationalize these standards.

1) Truth & Accuracy

We publish information that is accurate, verified, and presented in context.
Claims of fact require at least two independent, credible sources, or direct documentary/official evidence.
Headlines, push notifications, thumbnails, and social copy must not oversell or mislead the substance of a report.
Data and visuals reflect the underlying evidence; charts and images are never manipulated to distort meaning.
We clearly distinguish news, analysis, opinion, satire, and sponsored content with labels at the top of the story.

2) Fairness, Balance & Right of Reply

We seek relevant perspectives on contested issues and avoid one-sided framing.
Individuals/organizations subject to significant criticism are offered a timely right of reply; their responses (or a record of attempts) are included in the story.
Editors apply heightened sensitivity in reports involving grief, trauma, sexual violence, or suicide.

3) Independence & Integrity

Editorial judgments are independent of owners, advertisers, and affiliates.
Paid news is prohibited. Sponsored, branded, or partner content is prominently disclosed and produced on a separate workflow from editorial.
Staff must disclose and recuse from coverage where personal, financial, or familial conflicts may arise.
Gifts, paid travel, and benefits are refused or fully disclosed if acceptance is unavoidable for reporting.

4) Sourcing & Attribution

We credit original reporting, images, and datasets.
Anonymous sources are used sparingly and only when (a) information is of clear public interest, (b) the source faces credible risk, and (c) an editor knows the source’s identity and verifies the information.
We never plagiarize. Quotations are accurate and set in proper context.

5) Privacy, Dignity & Children

We respect reasonable expectations of privacy, except where a clear public-interest justification exists.
We do not identify victims of sexual offences.
We avoid publishing details that could harm minors and obtain consent from guardians and, where appropriate, assent from the child.

6) Non-Discrimination & Harm

Content must not incite violence, hatred, or discrimination on grounds including religion, caste, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
We avoid stereotyping and ensure language and visuals do not stigmatize communities or individuals.

7) Safety of Sources & Staff

We protect confidential sources and use secure channels for sensitive material.
Field reporting prioritizes physical, legal, and digital security; editors may delay publication to mitigate credible risks.

8) Elections & Public Interest

We follow applicable election laws and Model Code of Conduct, including rules on pre-poll and exit-poll publication.
Undercover or surreptitious newsgathering is permitted only when vital to expose wrongdoing and when no less intrusive method will work.

9) Use of AI, Automation & Synthetic Media

AI tools may assist with transcription, translation, data insight, or routine formatting; no story is published without human editorial review.
Any AI-generated or synthetically altered visuals/audio used for editorial purposes are clearly labeled and must not mislead.

10) Corrections, Clarifications & Takedowns

We correct significant errors promptly and transparently, noting what changed and why at the top or foot of the article.
For minor updates (spellings, style, links), we may “update” without a formal correction note; substantive edits carry a timestamped correction/clarification.
Verified legal notices or court orders are handled expeditiously in consultation with counsel.

11) User-Generated Content & Moderation

Comments and community posts are moderated to remove defamation, hate speech, incitement, impersonation, doxxing, or spam.
We may edit/remove UGC that violates this Code or applicable law, while preserving good-faith debate.

12) Advertising & Commercial Content

Editorial content is never for sale.
Ads must be clearly distinguishable from editorial and must not carry misleading claims or unlawful targeting.
We do not accept advertising for products/services that violate Indian law or our safety standards.

13) Records, Audit & Training

Editors maintain reporting notes, source communications (where safe), and data workbooks for audit on a reasonable request from internal standards.
Staff receive periodic training on ethics, fact-checking, legal risk, safety, and data journalism.
This Code is reviewed annually or sooner if laws or DNPA guidance change.

Grievance Redressal (Three-Tier System under IT Rules, 2021)

Level I — Publisher (Think Bengal)

Grievance Officer: [Name]
Designation: Grievance Officer, Think Bengal
Email: contactthinkbengal@gmail.com
Phone: [+91-XXXXXXXXXX]
Postal Address: [Full Indian address]
Timeline: We acknowledge complaints within 24–72 hours and aim to resolve them within 15 days per the Rules.

Level II — Self-Regulating Body

If unresolved at Level I, complaints may be escalated to our Self-Regulating Body (SRB):
- [Name of SRB] • [Website/Email]

Level III — Oversight Mechanism

As per the Rules, matters unresolved at Level II may be referred to the Oversight Mechanism of the Government of India.

How to file a grievance:
Please include the URL(s), a description of the concern, and supporting documents or screenshots. Indicate whether you are requesting a correction, clarification, takedown, or right of reply.

Implementation Checklist (Internal)

Pre-publish: source vetting, second-editor review for sensitive pieces, legal read if needed.
Labels: news/analysis/opinion/sponsored clearly marked; synthetic media labeled.
Records: retain notes, transcripts, data, and editorial decisions.
Post-publish: monitor feedback, act on credible error reports, log corrections.
Annual review: ethics refreshers, policy updates, and public transparency report.

Contact

Publisher: Ashok Narayan Majumder
Editor-in-Chief: Rukmini Dutta
Standards & Ethics Desk: contactthinkbengal@gmail.com

This page summarizes Think Bengal’s ethical commitments. Where any ambiguity arises, the stricter standard among DNPA guidance, the PCI Norms, the Programme Code, and applicable Indian law will guide our decisions.