Reuters starts transparency initiative

Reuters on Thursday announced a new feature called Backstory, which aims to provide additional transparency around its reporting process to readers.

Backstory will provide readers with an explanation, either as a statement or Q&A with a Reuters journalist, of how a particular news story was reported when Reuters editors think it might be useful.  The first Backstory provides some transparency around the polling process and the importance of getting the questions right.

In addition, Reuters will now link to its governing values, the Trust Principles, at the bottom of all news stories on Reuters.com.

Created in 1941, in the midst of World War II, the Trust Principles call upon Reuters and its employees to act at all times with integrity, independence and freedom from bias.

Editor in chief Stephen Adler, in a note to readers, stated, “These additions reflect our commitment not only to deliver accurate, unbiased news but to share more information about the way we work and the standards under which we operate.”