Journalistic Code of Ethics

Bali Journal operates under Indonesian press law and adapts the Indonesian Press Council's (Dewan Pers) national Journalistic Code of Ethics (Kode Etik Jurnalistik) to our own editorial process. This code applies to every article published under the Bali Journal name, regardless of whether it was drafted with AI assistance.

1. Independence and Good Faith

Bali Journal reports independently and in good faith, producing news that is accurate, balanced, and does not carry ill intent. Editorial decisions on what to cover and how are not influenced by advertisers, sponsors, or political interests.

2. Professional Fact-Gathering

We obtain and report information through legitimate, professional means: verifying claims, crediting original sources, and citing published evidence for factual assertions. Every article on Bali Journal is required to reference at least one piece of supporting evidence before it can be published.

3. Accuracy, Balance, and No Presumption of Guilt

We verify facts before publication, present news in a balanced way, do not mix fact with opinion that could be misleading, and apply the presumption of innocence - individuals are not characterized as guilty of a crime before a competent legal process has determined so.

4. No Fabrication, Defamation, or Obscenity

Bali Journal does not publish fabricated, slanderous, or obscene news, and does not name or imply specific accusations against private individuals without a documented, verifiable basis. Every article is screened through an automated legal-risk assessment before publication precisely to catch unsubstantiated accusations before they reach print.

5. Protection of Victims and Minors

We do not identify victims of sexual crimes and do not name minors involved in a crime, whether as a perpetrator or a victim.

6. Right of Reply and Correction

Subjects of critical reporting have the right to respond, and factual errors are corrected promptly once verified. See our Disclaimer for how to submit a correction request.

7. Protection of Sources

We protect the confidentiality of sources who request it, including tips submitted through our Submit Report page.

8. Discrimination

We do not publish news that discriminates on the basis of ethnicity, religion, race, gender, national origin, or disability, and do not sensationalize matters of religion (SARA) or physical difference.

9. Conflicts of Interest

Our team does not accept payment or favors, in any form, in exchange for shaping the content or outcome of a report.