Greater Internet Freedom project Code of Conduct

Internews’ Core Values are: Listen and learn continuously; Build community; Act with integrity and persistence; Commit to making a difference; and, Bring optimism and excitement. These values guide how we work, how we treat each other, and aid our decision-making processes. We build these values into all aspects of our organization.

Our programs and partnerships succeed because these values inform our work and professional relationships. As such, we request that participants read and honor the following Code of Conduct regarding their participation in this mailing list.

We do not want to dictate behavior or in any way limit expression. This Code of Conduct is provided as a way to encourage respect and build collaboration.

Scope

This code of conduct applies to all members of our consortium who have subscribed to any of the Greater Internet Freedom (GIF) mailing lists or participate in any event organized by the project.

Summary

Be respectful, be inclusive, and be open.

Code of Conduct

  1. Always Demonstrate respect for others. Effective sharing and learning can only take place when interactions are built on a foundation of respect for others. It will never be acceptable to insult others or demonstrate disrespect, even in moments of philosophical disagreement and passionate exchange. If you disagree with someone – do so respectfully. Showing respect also includes understanding that not everyone is always comfortable sharing opinions. Please always be considerate in your actions.
  2. Include everyone. This mailing list should not be viewed as a competition to prove who is most knowledgeable, but rather as an opportunity to broaden our networks of skill, collaboration and understanding. Speak in language that is accessible to all – in particular, please define acronyms and technical jargon when using them in discussions.
  3. Ask questions. Participants should feel free to ask any question at any time; there shall be no such thing as a “stupid question”.
  4. Embrace a spirit of sharing. We believe that everyone is an expert in their own realm and encourage each participant to please contribute their wisdom to the mix. We want to break down barriers between the vague notions of “novice” and “expert”; all of us know something and none of us knows everything.
  5. Practice privacy by default. We understand that as participants of this mailing list, many of us may wish to document content for both personal and professional reasons. To protect the security and safety of all the participants and of the mailing list, we request that participants refrain from documenting this mailing list on social media in any way. Do not assume that people consent to their names, emails, titles, organizations, or likeness of any kind being used outside this mailing list – ask for permission before quoting someone or taking a screenshot. Please respect those who wish to remain anonymous and don’t take or tag screenshots of participants’ information who do not want their information published.
  6. Respect the time of others. Do your best to keep emails clear, concise, and on topic. We understand that the mailing list can bring some very interesting topics and help connect organizations, but the main goal of this mailing list is to share information. Professional networking or highly specific conversations between two parties can be done in a private exchange rather than emails for all to read. Long emails or writing several emails at once may be overwhelming and actually prevent the sharing of information. Limiting what one writes will help ensure that what all participants can see is relevant and informative.

We are committed to providing a safe space and a harassment-free experience for everyone.

Participants are expected to treat all people with respect and help create a welcoming environment. If you notice behavior that fails to meet this standard, please speak up and help keep this mailing list as respectful as we expect it to be. Better yet, please reach out to a member of the Incidents Team so that the organizers can respond directly to cases of harassment. Harassment and exclusionary behavior are not acceptable or tolerated.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the GIF team may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the mailing list. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the Incidents Team directly. All reports will be considered confidential, and the incident-reporters will remain anonymous.

The Incidents Team includes Brittany Piovesan (bpiovesan [at] internews.org) and Justin Jerrell (jjerrell [at] internews.org)