Conflicts of interest and sponsored content

Readers must be able to trust that a story is there because it is news — not because someone paid for it or is a friend of the reporter.

## Gifts and favours
Do not accept money, expensive gifts, paid trips or favours from people you report on. Small courtesies — a cup of tea at a press conference — are fine. If in doubt, ask your editor, and say no.

## Declare your interests
If you have a personal link to a story — a relative involved, shares in the company, membership of the organisation — tell your editor before you work on it. Often someone else should report it.

## Paid news is not news
Content that someone has paid for must be clearly labelled — "Sponsored", "Partner content" or "Advertisement" — so that no reader can mistake it for independent reporting. Rational Times labels every piece of paid content and keeps it out of the news sections. The Press Council of India and the Election Commission treat "paid news" — paid content dressed up as news — as a serious wrong; during elections, the Election Commission counts paid news as election expenditure of the candidate.

## Your social media
What you post as a journalist reflects on your newsroom. Do not take sides on matters you report on, and never share unverified claims.