Code of conduct

Shared Bylines students have gone on to do great things in their careers, and we are always happy to remain a part of everyone’s journey beyond the program. We champion both our students and volunteers, and we hope that by putting Shared Bylines on your CV or bio, you are recognized for your hard work, whether you are an early career journalist on their way to good things, or you helped them get there! 

By signing up for the Shared Bylines program as a mentor, mentee or volunteer, here are a few things you are agreeing to:

  • To conduct yourself professionally with other participants and publicly, including online, while you are part of the program. 

  • To report accurately, honestly and ethically in editorial work conducted while you are part of the program. 

  • To not act or speak in a racist, discriminatory or derogatory manner within the program and publicly (see our discrimination policy). 

  • To not incite violence or support others who do. This includes any form of harassment or bullying. 

  • To not share confidential and off-the-record information which is shared during classes or by guest speakers. 

Not abiding by these guidelines could result in termination of your time with Shared Bylines.

Discrimination policy

Shared Bylines is built on the idea of fair and equal opportunity for all. Harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated within the program or by participants in it. We take very seriously our role to build a safe and open space, and expect that all our participants (mentors, mentees and volunteers) will strive to do the same. 

Everyone who is a part of Shared Bylines is expected to uphold and abide by the following policy, and to co-operate in any investigation should a complaint come to our attention. As organizers, we are responsible to act immediately on observations or allegations of harassment or discrimination. We are responsible for creating and maintaining a harassment- and discrimination-free organization, and will do our best to address potential problems as soon as they arise. 

The following behaviour is prohibited, as defined by The Ontario Human Rights Commission: 

Discrimination: means any form of unequal treatment based on a Code ground, whether imposing extra burdens or denying benefits. It may be intentional or unintentional. It may involve direct actions that are discriminatory on their face, or it may involve rules, practices or procedures that appear neutral, but disadvantage certain groups of people. Discrimination may take obvious forms, or it may happen in very subtle ways. Even if there are many factors affecting a decision or action, if discrimination is one factor, that is a violation of this policy. 

Harassment: means a course of comments or actions that are known, or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome. It can involve words or actions that are known or should be known to be offensive, embarrassing, humiliating, demeaning or unwelcome, based on a ground of discrimination identified by this policy. Harassment can occur based on any of the grounds of discrimination. 

The OHRC identifies protection based on 17 grounds: 

  • Age 

  • Creed (religion) 

  • Sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding) 

  • Sexual orientation 

  • Gender identity 

  • Gender expression 

  • Family status (such as being in a parent-child relationship) 

  • Marital status (including married, single, widowed, divorced, separated or living in a conjugal relationship outside of marriage, whether in a same-sex or opposite-sex relationship) 

  • Disability (including mental, physical, developmental or learning disabilities)

  • Race

  • Ancestry 

  • Place of origin 

  • Ethnic origin 

  • Citizenship 

  • Colour 

  • Record of offences (criminal conviction for a provincial offence, or for an offence for which a pardon has been received) 

  • Association or relationship with a person identified by one of the above grounds

  • Perception that one of the above grounds applies. 

If anyone believes that a Shared Bylines participant has breached this policy, they should bring their concerns to the organizers of the program. The organizers of Shared Bylines have a responsibility to investigate all potential breaches of the policy with fairness, respect and due diligence and in a timely manner. If the organizers have good reason to believe, after a fair and thorough investigation, that the policy has indeed been breached, they have the right to decide on the consequences of the breach, which could include barring the offender from participating in the program.