Code of Conduct
To promote our values, JAWS is committed to providing a positive, inclusive and supportive environment for all participants. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, JAWS staff or board, and others, are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct. This policy applies to all JAWS-related events, meetings, social media platforms and other JAWS-sponsored activities, including those by other organizations held in conjunction with JAWS on public or private platforms.
JAWS strives to foster and promote a vibrant, healthy, and equitable learning environment
where participants can learn, share knowledge and feel supported. JAWS welcomes people
from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. If you experience or witness incidents of
discrimination, harassment or unacceptable behavior, JAWS asks that you inform either
the JAWS executive director, JAWS president or another member of the Executive Committee
if the issue involves both the ED and the President, so that appropriate action can be taken. If a crime has been committed, alert law enforcement immediately.
Unacceptable behavior includes:
Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form.
Verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, JAWS board or staff member, or other guest. Examples of verbal abuse include but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, JAWS staff or board, or other guest.
Disruption of presentations during in-person or virtual sessions, or at other events organized by JAWS. All participants must comply with the instructions of the moderator and any JAWS staff.
Recording, copying or taking screenshots of Q&As or any chat room activity that takes place in the
virtual space without prior permission from the organizer or presenters. This ensures protection of intellectual property, as well as an individual’s privacy.
Other actions that are determined by the Executive Committee, consistent with organizational policy, to violate JAWS’ values and Code of Conduct.
The JAWS Board of Directors reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and
appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting, event or social media platform
without warning or refund, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior, and JAWS
reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting, event or platform, virtually or
in person.
Procedures
When a person participating in any kind of a JAWS activity experiences or witnesses
behavior that may violate this Code of Conduct, the steps outlined below will be pursued. At
all times in implementing this Code of Conduct, JAWS’ standards of fairness and equity and
the broader ethical standards of journalists, including verification and confidentiality, will be
respected.
Person with a grievance reports it as soon as possible to a member of the JAWS board or
event moderator. If action is required to stop disruption or further harm, immediate steps may
be taken to stop the disruption or ask the individual to leave, as determined in the Board
member or moderator’s discretion.
For matters not requiring immediate action, at least two members of the Executive Committee will review each report in a timely manner. This review will include speaking to all parties involved, including witnesses, and will be mindful of avoiding additional harm to any of the parties involved.
The reviewers will take their findings to the full Executive Committee with recommendations on
next steps. (Note: if the matter involves someone on the Executive Committee, persons not involved will address the issue and may bring in other members to assist if needed.) If they find that a violation of the JAWS Code of Conduct has occurred, they may recommend mediation led by a designated JAWS member and/or measures such as loss of membership privileges. Any loss of membership privileges will be for a specified period of time. At the end of that time, privileges may be restored if so desired by the individual involved and approved by the Executive Committee after a determination that the initial inappropriate behavior is not likely to happen again.
This entire process will be strictly confidential. This includes but is not limited to conversations,
verbal and written, private or public, about allegations or responses.