Welcome to the Mountainair Dispatch! The Dispatch is committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism and maintaining the trust of our readers. The Mountainair Dispatch Standards and Practices page outlines the principles and guidelines that govern the Dispatch's reporting, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and integrity in all news content. I believe that responsible journalism plays a vital role in informing and empowering individuals while contributing to a well-informed society. By adhering to these standards, I aim to provide reliable, ethical, and impactful news coverage. My commitment extends to promoting transparency, respecting diversity, and fostering meaningful public discourse. I invite you to explore the Mountainair Dispatch's Standards and Practices to learn more about my journalistic approach and the values that guide my newsroom.

Credibility Assessments

The Mountainair Dispatch uses the following criteria to assess credibility. These standards are based on those followed by the US Department of Justice, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as the jury instructions for trials before the US District Courts of the 9th Judicial Circuit, and training provided by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, The Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing and Advanced Interrogation Techniques, training by Wicklander-Zulawski & Assocs., Inc., and US Army Field Manual 2-22.3, Human Intelligence Collector Operations (2006).

Corroboration

Is the testimony supported by that of other witnesses or by hard evidence (documentation, badging events, electronic data, etc.)?
Types of evidence to consider

• Witness statements (HUMINT)
• Documents/Pocket Litter/Other Physical Evidence
• Audio/Video/Photographic Recordings (IMINT)
• Badging Events
• Computer Data
• Communications Data (SIGINT)
• Measurements and Signals (MASINT)

Quality of corroboration typically outweighs Quantity.

Past Record

• Has the respondent engaged in the same misconduct in the past?
• Does the interviewee have a personal history of making up false claims or deceptive statements?
• Is there an institutional history of the interviewee's organization(s) using deceptive tactics?

Plausibility

Given the laws of science, is the story logical, reasonable, or even possible? Consider timelines, reverse timelines, the age of the evidence, etc.

• based on whether a person’s account of an event is believable/likely based on reasonable human behavior and experience,
• physical possibility, etc.
• Possible vs. Probable
• Validity of the testimony
• Direct Evidence
• Indirect Evidence
• Hearsay Evidence
• Timing and age of testimony
• Mistake vs untruthfulness
• Use repetition
• Telling the narrative backwards and forwards; from a different starting point
• Explore inconsistencies and consistencies

Motive to Falsify

Are individual biases at play (racism, sexism, ageism, self-interest, friendships, vendettas, etc.)?
Are organizational biases at play (labor vs. management, conservatives vs. liberals, law enforcement vs. criminal organizations, etc.)?

Demeanor

Use with caution, as its applicability changes across cultures, abilities, and generations.

• What are the interviewee’s baseline physical and verbal states? How do these states change during questioning?
• Does the interviewee’s behavior indicate minimization, deception, embarrassment, or other emotions?

Other Organizational Standards

EEOC Standard

• Inherent plausibility
• Motive to falsify
• Corroboration
• Past record
• Demeanor

CA Evidence Code, § 780

• Demeanor
• Character of testimony
• Capacity to perceive, recollect, or communicate
• Existence of bias, interest, or other motive
• Existence or nonexistence of any fact testified to by witness
• Previous statement/Inconsistent statement
• Attitude

9th Cir. Manual of Model Jury Instructions in Civil Trials

The governing standard for Jury Instructions in CA, AK, AZ,
ID, HI, MT, NV, OR, WA

• Opportunity and ability of the witness to see or hear the event
• Witness memory
• Manner while testifying
• Witnesses interest in the outcome of the case or any bias or prejudice
• Contradictory evidence
• Reasonableness of testimony in light of other evidence
• Other factors that bear on believability

References

• Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 US 742 (1998);
• Faragher v. Boca Raton, 524 US 775 (1998)
• Mendoza v. Western Medical Center of Santa Ana, 222 Cal.App.4th 1334; 166 Cal. Rptr. 3d 720 (2014)
• US Army, FM 2-22.3, Human Intelligence Collector Operations (2006)
• Liz Bradley and Hillary Farber, Virtually Incredible: Rethinking Deference to Demeanor when Assessing Credibility in Asylum Cases Conducted by Video Teleconference, Georgetown Immigration Law Journal, v. 36, p. 515-569 (2022) (PDF)
• EEOC, “Enforcement Guidance,” Vicarious Employer Liability for Unlawful Harassment by Supervisors, EEOC Notice 915.022
• 9th Cir. Manual of Model Jury Instructions in Civil Trials
• BM DePaulo and RL Pfeifer, On-the-Job experience and skill at detecting deception, Journal of Applied Social Psychology 16, at 1096-1103 (1983).
• MG Frank & P Ekman, The ability to detect deceit generalizes across different types of high-stake lies Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(6), 1429–1439, (1997).
• Paul Ekman, et al., Invited article: Face, voice, and body in detecting deceit, Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 15(2), 125–135 (1991).

Suicide Coverage

Reporting on sensitive topics like suicide requires careful consideration and adherence to ethical guidelines. To that end, the Mountainair Dispatch will adhere to the following formal policies when it comes to reporting on suicide:

Sensitivity and Compassion:

• The Mountainair Dispatch must approach stories about suicide with empathy, respect, and sensitivity towards the individuals affected, their families, and the wider community.
• The Mountainair Dispatch will avoid using graphic or sensationalistic language, images, or details that may cause distress or encourage imitation.

Minimize Harm:

• The Mountainair Dispatch will consider the potential impact of reporting on vulnerable audiences, particularly those who have experienced or are at risk of suicidal ideation.
• The Mountainair Dispatch will avoid excessive coverage that may lead to contagion or the “Werther effect” (i.e., copycat suicides) by providing detailed descriptions of methods, locations, or personal histories of those involved.
• The Mountainair Dispatch will refrain from speculating or making assumptions about motives unless supported by verified information.

Responsible Reporting:

• The Mountainair Dispatch will prioritize accuracy by verifying facts from reliable sources before publishing or broadcasting.
• The Mountainair Dispatch will seek expert input from mental health professionals, suicide prevention organizations, or other relevant authorities to provide accurate information and context.
• The Mountainair Dispatch will highlight available resources such as helpline numbers, crisis centers, or support services for individuals in need.

Privacy and Consent:

• The Mountainair Dispatch will obtain informed consent from individuals affected by suicide, their families, or legal representatives before sharing personal details or photographs, ensuring their well-being and privacy are respected.
• The Mountainair Dispatch will be cautious when reporting on suicides within certain cultural or religious contexts, taking into account sensitivities and potential stigma.

Awareness and Education:

• The Mountainair Dispatch will promote understanding and awareness of suicide as a complex public health issue, addressing its societal, psychological, and systemic dimensions.
• The Mountainair Dispatch will collaborate with mental health organizations and experts to produce informative content that educates the public, reduces stigma, and encourages help-seeking behavior.

Postvention Measures:

• The Mountainair Dispatch will provide information on postvention resources for communities affected by suicide, such as support groups, counseling services, or memorial events.
• The Mountainair Dispatch will offer stories of hope, resilience, and recovery that emphasize the importance of mental health treatment and support.

Because journalistic standards and societal understanding of suicide reporting will evolve, this policy will be subject to change in an attempt to match standards and norms.