Bloomberg News is turning 25 next year, and in advance of its birthday the news organization published the 25th anniversary edition of its style and reporting guide “The Bloomberg Way.”
The book by editor-in-chief Matthew Winkler with Jennifer Sondag, standards editor for Americas, will be available via the Bloomberg terminal and Amazon.com this week. While the guide continues to talk about markets coverage, Bloomberg style, and covering companies, there are updated sections around topics including social media, ethics and source development
Here’s an overview of some of the updates and changes:
- Preparation and source development: The latest edition has a new section called “How to Prepare” and offers advice about touching base with sources, looking at data and planning for breaking news.
- Ethical principles: While the key ethical standards are from the ethics chapter in the previous edition, the new book explores how to avoid conflicts of interest – actual, potential or perceived. It also talks about being honest in talking with sources and reporting news, writing accurately and without bias, and promptly correcting errors. It also discusses how the news division covers customers of Bloomberg LP, including new details on the separation between news and sales.
- Social media: The latest edition expands guidelines for using social media. The book states, “Social media platforms are a powerful way to promote our work and expand the reach of our reporting when used responsibly. Sites such as Twitter and LinkedIn allow us to stay connected to a broader audience as well as to the people and companies we report on. Social media can also be a valuable tool for research or finding new contacts.”
- Bloomberg First Word: The book highlights the difference between First Word and a Bloomberg News story. First Word began in 2010 to give terminal clients quick, condensed bits of news.
Proceeds from sales of “The Bloomberg Way” will be donated to The Committee to Protect Journalists, a nonprofit that promotes press freedom.
