Effective Date: July 2025

Registration No: 2400/2025

Registered under: Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Maldives

Havaasa News is committed to ethical journalism, accountability, and public service. As a Maldivian news platform, we recognize our role in upholding democracy, social responsibility, and youth empowerment. This Code of Ethics defines the core principles and values that guide our work.

1. Accuracy and Truthfulness

We are committed to reporting facts truthfully, accurately, and fairly.

Every article, headline, or caption must be supported by verified evidence or credible sources.

Corrections will be made transparently and promptly if we publish incorrect or misleading information.

Quotes must be faithful to the source’s original statement and not taken out of context.

2. Independence and Integrity

Havaasa News will maintain full editorial independence from political, corporate, and personal influence.

Journalists and editors must not accept gifts, favors, or payments that could compromise their integrity or objectivity.

Conflicts of interest must be declared and avoided. No staff member shall report on matters in which they have a personal stake.

3. Fairness and Impartiality

We strive to present all sides of a story where relevant and give voice to underrepresented communities, including youth, women, and marginalized groups.

Reporting will be free from bias, favoritism, or discriminatory language.

Sensationalism, exaggeration, or clickbait headlines that distort the truth will not be tolerated.

4. Respect for Human Dignity and Privacy

We respect the dignity, rights, and privacy of all individuals, especially vulnerable groups such as minors and victims of crime.

We do not publish private information without consent, unless it is in the clear public interest.

Graphic or disturbing content will be published only with clear warnings and when justified by journalistic value.

5. Accountability and Transparency

Havaasa News is accountable to the public. We welcome feedback, respond to complaints, and take responsibility for our content.

All sponsored content, advertisements, or paid promotions will be clearly labeled.

Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. All sources must be properly credited.

6. Professional Conduct

All Havaasa News staff and contributors must uphold professionalism in conduct, language, and communication.

We do not engage in harassment, discrimination, or intimidation of any kind within our workplace or in the field.

Our journalists must respect the laws of the Maldives while advocating for press freedom.

7. Youth Empowerment and Social Responsibility

As an entity under the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Havaasa News will prioritize youth-related issues, education, innovation, and civic engagement.

We aim to provide a platform for young voices and encourage responsible dialogue on national development, climate, equality, and governance.

Content that incites hate, violence, or discrimination will not be tolerated.

8. Digital and Online Ethics

We ensure the security and ethical use of user data and uphold privacy laws in digital interactions.

Comment moderation will follow clear community guidelines to prevent abuse, trolling, or misinformation.

AI-generated or altered content must be clearly disclosed to the audience.

9. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Employees and contributors must disclose any affiliations or relationships that could affect the impartiality of their work.

Personal opinions must be clearly separated from news reporting, and marked as editorials or opinion pieces.

10. Commitment to Continuous Improvement

All staff will receive periodic training on ethics, media law, and journalistic best practices.

The Code of Ethics will be reviewed and updated as needed to reflect evolving challenges in the media landscape.