The Observer is committed to journalism of the highest standards. It places a high premium on accuracy and fairness in all its publications and across all platforms, as well as in the events it organises. Its values include independence, work that is free of political bias or advertising constraints, and a view of the world that is both liberal and international.
Its code of conduct is based on the Editors’ Code of Practice published by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). It is important to note that The Observer is not itself a member of IPSO, having decided its readers’ interests would be best served by its own independent Editorial Board. However all its journalists are required to follow the IPSO code in spirit as well as to the letter and must be familiar with its requirements. They are also expected to follow an additional set of guidelines established and supervised by the Observer Editorial Board.
The Observer Editorial Board will have a chair and two other members. Its responsibilities will be to:
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Resolve reader complaints that can’t be settled by the relevant editor
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Establish and oversee the journalists’ code of conduct and the accompanying guidelines
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Adjudicate on potential conflicts of interest
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Resolve other ethical issues that might arise
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Uphold Observer values and high editorial standards
The Readers’ Editor has a key role to play in these matters. They will be a seasoned journalist who will represent the readers’ interests to the editorial staff and be the first line of response to complaints, criticism and occasional praise.
They will make decisions about how and where corrections should be published, and will produce a regular internal report both on readers’ reactions over the previous days and on how they have been dealt with. They will be accountable to the Editorial Board.
Attached to this introduction are the Editorial Board’s guidelines and a note on “The Soul of the Paper”, a memo written by the legendary Observer Editor David Astor whose values shaped the paper’s brand during his 27 years in office and remain very relevant today.
Richard Lambert
Chair, Observer Editorial Board