Darfur 24 Media Network Editorial Policy 

Introduction: 

Darfur 24 is an independent media network that produces in-depth reports, analyses, and multimedia stories to provide a deeper understanding of news in Sudan in general, and the Darfur region in particular, with a focus on women’s issues and groups affected by conflict and marginalization. 

Its mission is to pursue honest, accurate, comprehensive, balanced, and reliable journalism that champions and amplifies the voices of marginalized groups, particularly women affected by conflict and discrimination. 

The network is committed to producing content based on accurate and impartial data that reflects the reality of events in Sudan and its regional environment, while making every effort to verify information and counter misinformation in order to uncover the truth. 

Darfur 24 aspires to be a model of free journalism and the unrestricted exchange of ideas, conveying information according to the highest professional standards and in a spirit of respect for justice and diversity. 

Darfur24 network is an independent editorial organization that makes its decisions free from any external interference or influence that might compromise the integrity of its work or the independence of its journalistic team. 

Darfur24 Geographical coverage : 

Darfur 24 covers all regions of Sudan, with a special focus on Darfur. 

Darfur24 coverage extends to countries where Sudanese have sought refuge , such as: Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Egypt, and Libya. 

Target audience: 

Sudanese men and women between the ages of 21 and 65, both inside Sudan and abroad. Young men and women are the primary target audience for content and engagement.

In the English version of Darfur 24, we target: 

English audiences interested in Sudanese affairs. 

Followers of center and East African news.

Those interested in conflicts, human rights issues, and justice around the world. Publication language: 

Arabic is the primary language of publication. 

Part of the content is translated into English to suit the interests of the English-audiences readers.

The main topics produced by Darfur 24: 

Daily news stories: Up-to-date coverage of current affairs both locally and regionally.

Written content: 

News stories, reports, and 

opinion pieces covering social, political, economic, cultural, and sports issues, in addition to topics focusing on the environment and climate. 

Extensive news reports: 

  • In-depth and continuous coverage of events inside and outside Sudan. 
  • Visual content (videos): 
  • Documentary films 
  • Explanatory and awareness-raising videos 
  • Interviews with public figures, activists, and experts 
  • Investigative reports: 
  • In-depth stories addressing sensitive issues affecting Sudanese society, with a particular focus on Darfur. 
  • Interviews, talk shows, and podcasts: 
  • Analysis of current affairs by interviewing experts and analysts, with an open platform for the public to interact and express their opinions. 
  • Conflict coverage and dealing with victims, witnesses, and vulnerable groups
  1. Covering conflict zones: 

At Darfur 24, the safety of journalists, reporters, and victims and witnesses is a top priority. We do not take risk to cover any journalistic story that might expose any party to physical, psychological, or security harm. We evaluate each investigative or field story within its own security, political, and social context. 

We also pay particular attention to the complex contexts of conflict zones in Sudan in general, and Darfur in particular, and we ensure appropriate protection measures are taken at every stage of our journalistic work, in line with the highest professional and ethical standards. 

  1. Dealing with Victims and Survivors: 

We are committed to protecting the human dignity of victims and survivors, taking into account their psychological and emotional status, and avoiding any pressure during interviews. 

We give them the time and space to speak freely, and we respect their desire to schedule an interview, or to stop speaking at any moment. 

We do not reveal their identities, names, or photos except with their clear informed consent and after assessing the impact of publication on their safety. 

We assess each case individually and make the appropriate decision in consultation with the editorial team, including using only audio, concealing features, or canceling the story altogether if necessary. 

We encourage the inclusion of female journalists in our coverage teams, particularly when dealing with cases related to violations against women, as this plays a role in providing a safer and more reassuring environment for female victims. 

  1. Informed Consent 
  • The journalist identifies themselves and clearly explain the name of the organization, the nature of the media material, and the context of the interview to the interviewee or witness. 
  • Prior to recording, clear audio consent is obtained, confirming the other party’s knowledge that the interview is being conducted for journalistic purposes. 
  • The interviewee or witness is asked to choose how they would like to be identified (full name or pseudonym, occupation, etc.). 
  • Even after obtaining informed consent, the editorial team reserves the right to delete, edit, or refrain from publishing the interview if it later becomes apparent that it may cause harm or threaten the safety of the interviewee.
  1. Working with Children: 
  • Children are not interviewed or photographed without the explicit written consent of their parents or legal guardians. 
  • We refrain from publishing photos or videos that may explicitly depict children. 
  • We are strictly committed to ensuring the physical and emotional safety of children at all stages of our journalistic work, and we are sensitive to psychological and social issues when telling their stories. 
  1. Dealing with War Crimes and Serious Violations: 
  • We cover cases of violations and war crimes from a human rights and humanitarian perspective, with strict adherence to verification and avoiding sensationalism or repetition of violence, visually or linguistically. 
  • We respect the rights of victims and survivors, and cooperate with specialized organizations when necessary to document violations within transitional justice standards. 
  1. Diversity and Equity in Coverage: 
  • We do not refer to the religion, ethnicity, nationality, or tribal background of individuals in our journalistic coverage except when clearly necessary for the journalistic context. 
  • We are committed to providing coverage that represents the geographical diversity of Sudan and Darfur.We also value diversity, backgrounds, and affiliations, and we work to convey stories from diverse local communities, ensuring media justice and variety of voices. 
  • The Darfur 24 newsroom carefully selects its guests and experts to ensure representation of diverse religious, ethnic, and national backgrounds, thus supporting balance and objectivity in published content. 
  1. Original Sources and Verification of Information 
  • At Darfur 24, we place the utmost importance on relying on original, direct sources, and avoiding unverified transmission or dissemination of information without verification. 
  • We are careful to consult eyewitnesses, original documents, recordings, experts, and field context whenever possible, and we verify information across multiple sources before publishing. 
  • We use professional verification tools and methods for images, videos, maps, and digital content, especially in an environment characterized by widespread misinformation and limited access to information. We are also committed to verifying the names of individuals, locations, and the political or local context of each piece.
  • When information is received regarding violations or sensitive testimonies from women or vulnerable groups, we pay special attention to verifying the language and cultural context, avoiding interpreting events from a biased or limited perspective, and seeking to understand the story from the perspective of those who experienced them. 
  • If we are in doubt about a piece of information or are unable to verify it, we choose to either refrain from publishing it or explicitly explain our inability to verify it, in order to preserve public trust and our professional credibility. 
  1. Combating Hate Speech: 
  • Attached is the Social Media Comment Moderation Policy 
  1. Corrections, Deletions, and Apologies for Errors 
  • Darfur 24 is committed to the highest standards of transparency and credibility, and recognizes that making mistakes is part of journalistic practice, However, prompt and responsible correction is a duty we owe to the public and the parties from whom we obtain information. 
  • If we discover inaccurate or incomplete information in any of the published materials, we will correct or update it as quickly as possible, clearly indicating the amendment. If a material error occurs that could mislead the public or cause harm to an individual or group, we do not simply correct it; we also issue a public clarification and an explicit apology. This decision is made after discussion in the editorial room. 
  • The date of the amendment or deletion is noted, and we are careful to document any changes in a manner that respects the reader’s right to know and the right of affected individuals to redress. 
  • Darfur 24 avoids publishing or broadcasting graphic images, violent content, or videos containing scenes of blood or extreme violence, or footage that violates the dignity of victims or promotes hate speech and violence. 
  • We do not use images or videos showing dead bodies, dismembered bodies, torture, or mutilated faces, unless their use is absolutely necessary to serve the public interest, and they have been blurred or the public has been warned in advance. 
  • We strictly refrain from publishing any content that contains direct or implicit calls for murder, incitement to violence, or revenge. We carefully evaluate any material containing visual or linguistic violence, in cooperation with the editorial team, with the highest priority being given to the safety of the readers and respect for human dignity.
  1. Gender-Sensitive Editorial Guidelines 

Darfur 24 is committed to producing fair and gender-sensitive media content that reflects the diversity of Sudanese society and supports balanced representation of women, men, and marginalized groups in all journalistic content, without perpetuating stereotypes or reproducing gender-based discrimination. 

We strive to: 

  • Include women’s voices and participation as opinion leaders, experts, witnesses, and sources in all topics, not just those related to “women’s issues.” 
  • Avoid using discriminatory, sexist, or marginalizing language, whether in headlines, text, questions, or descriptions, and adopt inclusive and neutral language whenever possible. 
  • Referring to women, girls, and survivors in language that respects dignity and avoids objectification, stereotyping, or portraying them solely as victims. 
  • When speaking about survivors of sexual or gender-based violence, we are extremely careful in our choice of words, avoiding details or terms that could endanger or re-inflict psychological harm on victims. 
  • Enhance the representation of female journalists and content experts in our coverage, particularly in stories with gender or humanitarian dimensions. 
  • Avoid images and terms that perpetuate stereotypes, such as portraying women solely in their domestic roles or automatically associating social attitudes with masculinity. 

Darfur24 periodically reviews its content to ensure its commitment to gender justice and welcomes feedback from the public and colleagues to develop its editorial policies to serve more equitable and inclusive media.

  • Appendix to the Editorial Policy: Editorial Guidelines for Inclusive Writing with Women (Within the Darfur24 Gender Policy)

1-Use gender-neutral language whenever possible: 

We avoid using masculine forms as a general term when referring to mixed groups. Example: 

The citizens said…” 

“The citizens, both male and female,” “the people,” or “the population” 

2- Mentioning women and girls explicitly when referring to targeted or affected groups: Women are not assumed to be included in general terms (such as “youth”) without explicit authorization. Examples: “Young men and women,” “children and girls,” “farmers, both male and female.” 3- Avoid stereotypical or reductive descriptions of women: 

We do not describe women solely by their family status (wife, mother, widow), unless it is directly relevant to the story. 

We focus on their role as survivors, actors, and decision-makers, not just as “victims.” 4-Pay attention to language by using proper words when covering violence against women: 

We do not use language that blames the victim or suggests that she is responsible for what she experienced. 

We avoid phrases like, “She was raped because she went out at night” or “somehow provoked the perpetrator.” 

5- We do not trivialize or insult when describing violations: 

6- We do not use terms like “illicit relationship” or “moral scandal” when talking about rape or sexual exploitation. 

We clearly say, “She was sexually assaulted” or “.