Our Mission
Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
"We aim to adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct."
Honesty is an essential component of trust. USA Travel News (Local
Media) is an energetic and active company that markets its services
and products to an expanding worldwide market. We acknowledge that our
information-based products and services win trust amongst users because of our
commitment to performing and reporting truthfully, and to the best of our
ability at all times.
Local Media has prepared this Code of Ethics as part of our best endeavour to be honest and fair traders. Our customers and users are invited to contact us at any time if they believe we have breached this Code, or that any improvement in our service can be made. No statement of principles can prescribe decisions governing every subject.
Common sense and good judgement are required in applying ethical principles to commercial realities.
Index
Overview
About Us
Overview
Our business ethic is aptly summarised by the Four-Way Test practised by the
members of the Rotary International service organisation:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
As business people, we recognise the important responsibility to keep our promises. We must accept responsibility for the consequences of our activities, and make every effort to ensure that our decisions and actions serve and satisfy. At all times, we must provide accurate and honest representation.
Our
Products and Services
We believe that the media industry, and the people who provide its products and
services, must adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional
conduct. Good media products are fair, accurate, honest, responsible,
independent and decent. Truth must be our guiding principle. We acknowledge our
obligation to operate in accordance with all Federal, State and Local laws,
business codes and regulations. We accept our responsibility in offering
constructive service to public, community, nation and the global community. To
build an ever-increasing business, we must also practise poise, self-restraint
and constructive co-operation.
Your Right To Know
Maintaining our integrity and honesty is paramount. To do so, we recognise the
need to communicate with you, to keep you properly informed about the services
and products being provided by us to you. We undertake to keep our
communications as clear as possible. We accept an obligation to provide written
documentation for every business transaction. We believe in providing a
comprehensive and timely information service about our business, freely
available at our websites. We strive to attain and to express a sincerity of
character that enrich our contacts with all people.
The
Way We Do Business
Local Media realises that its long-term interests are best served by
providing the best-possible service for our customers. We believe professional,
reputable and high-quality service will best look after the interest of our
clients, as well as provide profit and growth for our own future.
We should promptly confirm every business transaction in writing (by post, fax or e-mail to our customers), detailing our full contact information, summary of services/products being provided, disclosure of the full price, plus agreed terms and conditions of the arrangement.
We must apply confidentiality and anonymity in professional relationships with regard to privileged information. We must meet the responsibilities and obligations in contracts and mutual agreements in a timely manner.
Teleservices
We recognise that telephone contact has become a prominent method of doing
business. We adhere to the principle that our staff - before making or receiving
calls - must receive adequate training in professional telemarketing skills and
follow recognised procedures and practices for proper etiquette. We must
promptly disclose, in a clear and conspicuous manner, the identity of our
company, the purpose of the call, the nature of the services/products being
offered, and the accompanying conditions. At all times, good manners are
essential. All sales offers must be stated clearly and honestly so that the
parties know exactly what they have committed to and what they will be getting
in return. The expressed wishes of others should be respected with regard to
unsolicited telephone calls.
Internet
The Internet has become an increasingly important medium to exchange and access
markets worldwide. Local Media is committed to ethical and professional conduct
utilising on-line activity. We must adhere to all applicable laws and
regulations with no use of Internet marketing that would be illegal or improper,
if conducted by mail, telephone, fax or other media. Information collected from
customers must be kept confidential or used only for expressed purposes. All
data, especially confidential customer data, should be safeguarded against
unauthorised access. The expressed wishes of others should be respected with
regard to unsolicited e-mail messages.
Our
Publications and Programs
The public's right to know about matters of importance is paramount. Our Media
Flash e-newspaper and publications act as a monitor of the practitioners and
corporations of the media sector. Media Flash has a special
responsibility to be a vigilant watchdog of legitimate public interests. We
should serve as a constructive critic. Sources should be disclosed unless there
is a clear reason not to do so. The ongoing credibility of the information that
we provide will ultimately determine the commercial successes of our business.
We will avoid practices that conflict with the ability to report and present
news in a fair, accurate and unbiased manner. We should guard against
inaccuracies, bias or distortion through emphasis, omission or technological
manipulation. We should promptly and prominently acknowledge substantive errors.
We should provide a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism, especially
when such comment is opposed to our editorial positions. Editorials and
expressions of personal opinion should be clearly labelled. Advertising and
promotion should be differentiated from news.
The
Way We Report
We respect truth and the public's right to information. We have borrowed from
the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance - "AJA Code of Ethics and
'The Age' Code of Conduct in preparing our Code of Conduct towards our reporting
activities:
We are required to report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts. Our reporting should seek to act always in the best interests of the public.
We commit to offering a fair opportunity for reply.
We shall not place unnecessary emphasis on personal characteristics, including race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, family relationships, religious belief, or physical or intellectual disability.
We will aim to attribute information to its source. Where confidences are accepted, they will respected.
We will seek to not allow any personal interests to undermine accuracy, fairness or independence. Where commercial considerations are involved, we will aim to clearly identify these prominently.
We will endeavour to disclose any conflicts of interests that affect, or could be seen to affect, the accuracy, fairness or independence of our reporting. This includes the disclosure of any direct or indirect payment.
We will use fair, respectable and honest means to obtain material. We will identity ourselves before obtaining any interview for publication or broadcast.n We will respect private grief, trauma and personal privacy. We will do our utmost to achieve fair correction of errors.
Our
Independence
Our information services should be free of obligations to news sources and
newsmakers. We must avoid conflicts of interest. As independent news providers,
our information users should be aware of any of our commercial considerations.
We must always clearly identify 'advertorial' promotions. Where applicable, our
promotional segments should prominently carry the message such as "Sponsors
Pay A Fee For Publicity On This Program/In This Feature" or 'Advertising
Feature'.
Fair Trading
We act in good faith in fulfilling the orders of our clients. We believe in
offering products and services that are safe and fit for their intended uses. We
strive to communicate always in a clear and honest way. We agree that all
parties in the marketing exchange process must agree to discharge their
obligations, financial and otherwise, in good faith. In the event of a client
not being satisfied with our product or service, our policy is to offer an
equitable replacement service or product to equal or greater value at the
earliest opportunity. No questions asked. Please make any claim within seven
days of the transaction.
Resolving
Grievances
If you have a complaint about products or services from Local Media, we ask that
you raise the issue promptly with our Chief Executive Ash Long in one of the
following ways. We seek to resolve any grievance at the earliest opportunity.
Please make any claim within seven days of the transaction.
In Writing. Please write to Ash Long, Local Media Pty Ltd, PO Box 1014, Research, Vic. 3095, Australia. Our street address is 30 Glen Gully Road, Eltham, Vic. 3095, Australia. Please clearly state your issue, as well as your own name and contact details, so that we may promptly reply to your questions.
By
Fax. Send a facsimile to Freefax 1-800 231 312.(International clients, fax
+61 3 9431 6247).
By E-Mail. Send an e-mail to ash@long.com.au
By
Telephone. Phone on our Freecall number: 1-800 231 311.(International
clients, phone +61 3 9439 9927).
Acknowledgements
We have used a number of sources to assist in preparing this "Code of
Ethics and Professional Conduct".
Associated Press Managing Editors - Code of Ethics
Association for Computing Machinery
Guidance For Writing A Code of Ethics - By Chris MacDonald Ph.D.
International Webmasters Association
Media, Entertainment Alliance Australia - "AJA Ethics"l
The Age' Code of Conduct
And also:
American Marketing Association - Code of Ethics
American
Teleservices Association - Code of Ethics
Published by Local Media Pty Ltd - ABN 67 096 680 063
A division of Local Newspapers Australia Ltd (a public company) - ACN 102 228 866
Copyright © 2005