UNCHAINEDTV OVERALL CODE OF CONDUCT
We urge every UnchainedTV contributor, volunteer and independent contractor to take responsibility for their own safety and use caution and good judgment at all times. Do not put yourself, anyone else or the general public, at risk.
We also require UnchainedTV contributors, volunteers and independent contractors – anyone who considers themselves a part of the UnchainedTV media movement – to behave in a professional and courteous manner at all times, treating others with respect and dignity and avoiding any behavior or
commentary that could be characterized or even misconstrued as biased against anyone on the basis of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, physical appearance, age, language or socioeconomic status. Our entire movement is based on kindness and nonviolence, which extends to other humans and other animals.
UNCHAINEDTV VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS CODE OF CONDUCT
The goal of the JaneUnchained News Network is twofold:
- To wake consumers up to the horrific animal exploitation they underwrite through their spending choices when it comes to food, clothing, beauty products, household products, entertainment, etc.
- To offer consumers a better alternative by showcasing choices that are better for their health, for the environment, for society, and for the animals themselves.
Our audience is, in a word, consumers. Without the consumer, virtually none of the cruelties we cover would be happening. We want to help consumers wake up!
A good rule of thumb is to visualize a consumer watching your report. Your mission? Open that person’s heart and mind to more compassionate
alternatives.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS
Contributors (aka Volunteer Contributors) go LIVE and report on video via various social media platforms (including but not limited to FB, IG, TikTok, X, etc) to inform and inspire consumers on issues/events the mainstream media often ignores, bringing images, video, and interviews to the American public that they are not getting from more established media sources.
Contributors are doing the crucial work of showcasing this fast-growing movement of compassion.
The method of the JaneUnchained News Network is very specific:
Contributors post LIVE videos on:
facebook.com/JaneVelezMitchell, Instagram, TikTok and the UnchainedTV streaming network, videos that can be shared/republished and/or linked on Instagram, IGTV, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, UnchainedTV.com, watch.UnchainedTV.com, Smart TV FAST Channels, and other websites/digital platforms, including television.
The coverage beat is geographically global but limited to certain events, organizations, issues, and individuals as outlined below.
1. VegFests, vegan restaurants, vegan cooking demos, vegan products, consumer trends, activism trends, conferences, convergences, protests, marches, vigils, cubes, demonstrations, meetups, meetings, galas, parties, organizations, movement leaders, social media influencers, celebrities, activists, authors, documentarians, chefs, ordinary vegans.
SUMMARY OF CONDUCT GUIDELINES
The rules below may seem complex and restrictive, but they actually create clear boundaries that will protect the contributors and UnchainedTV, thereby ensuring we will be able to grow and continue to do our crucial work effectively and not get wrapped up in costly, time-consuming, and emotionally
draining legal problems.
Contributors agree to rely on a simple, but very effective technique: speak from the heart, talking with protesters/event participants about their feelings, and sharing personal stories to get consumers to relate/identify and snap out of their denial about animal exploitation. Nobody can be taken to court for expressing a feeling.
The line Contributors CANNOT cross is to join in on attacking a private entity/corporation/institution/individual. This is for your own and JNN’s legal protection.
UNCHAINEDTV’S CONTRIBUTORS AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING RULES OF CONDUCT
Contributors recognize that going LIVE does NOT allow for editing/oversight of video content just by the very nature of LIVE broadcasting: it’s immediate, going out to the public as it’s recorded.
Therefore, Contributors accept the responsibility of acting as editors of last resort, avoiding anything that could result in lawsuits, arrest, or injury.
Contributors agree to refrain from engaging in or contributing any content that constitutes defamation, libel, slander, infringement, invasion of privacy, obscenity, pornography, profanity, fraud, or misrepresentation.
Contributors agree to immediately delete any video where anyone engages in any of the above.
Ex: Somebody jumps in front of your live camera and says “Jo Schmo, the owner of this slaughterhouse, beats his wife and kids.” (hit end on video and delete it asap)
Contributors are aware that there is NO insurance available to cover them because of the unique and unpredictable nature of their volunteer work. Contributors accept responsibility for the content of the LIVE videos they post and hold the JaneUnchained News Network harmless for any statements/
actions contained in their LIVE videos.
Contributors do NOT verbally, or in any other way, attack corporations, employees, customers, or anyone else.
Contributors are NOT investigative reporters and do not purport to be.
Contributors do NOT seek to score exclusive reports, except when they are positive in nature, such as the debut of a new vegan product.
Example: UnchainedTV reported on Compassion over Killing‘s brilliant undercover video showing horrific abuse at a chicken slaughterhouse, after the story was in the Washington Post. We linked to the Washington Post story that contained the video and the company’s response. We would not want to be the
first doing this kind of story because we do not have a legal team to vet exclusive stories. LIVE videos are not compatible with exclusives or gotcha journalism so let’s avoid it.
Contributors do NOT function/behave as protesters or participants when covering anything that involves a campaign/protest/action against any private corporation or private entity like a store, slaughterhouse, butcher, restaurants, scientific institution or university or individual, famous or not.
In those instances, Contributors refrain from expressing their personal opinions and operate like neutral journalists, simply recording the event and explaining the basics like the general location of the event, organization holding the event, etc.
Example of what to say: “We were told there would be a protest here. Let’s find out what it’s all about and talk to the organizers from xyz group. Why are you here?”
Don’t say: “What this (xyz company) is doing is disgraceful, cruel and barbaric.” There are likely dozens of protesters right there who can express that themselves. Let them do it.
When it comes to vigils, it’s ok to express your emotions about seeing animals going to their deaths. But, stick to your feelings.
Example of what to say: “Making eye contact with these pigs is something you have to experience for yourself to really understand how gut-wrenching it is, knowing they are headed to their deaths. The squeals of these animals is heartbreaking.” These are your feelings.
Example of what NOT to say: “The murderers who systematically torture and kill these innocent animals should rot in hell. They are monsters.” This is an attack.
Example of what to say: “These animals have traveled long distances and are clearly thirsty because look at them gobbling down the water they’re being offered.” This is observational and generalized.
Example of what NOT to say: “These animals have been trucked for four days across two state lines and now they are going to be electrocuted.” This is way too specific and likely cannot be verified even if it’s true.
Example of what to ask protesters: “Why are you here tonight? How do you feel when you see these pigs headed to slaughter? What would say to consumers who eat bacon?”
Example of what NOT to ask protesters: “Tell me what the process is behind those closed slaughterhouse doors.” You are asking someone to speculate and take a guess at something they cannot verify.
Contributors, verbally and in the written post description, invite the other side (corporation, store, farm, slaughterhouse, individual) on at any time to respond. The language is: “The company and/or industry is invited on any time to respond.”
Contributors, when possible, approach the other side, in a friendly manner, to get a response. “Hi, I’m a journalist with JNN. What’s your response to this protest?”
SUMMARY:
DEALING WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES
Whatever one company is doing, that provokes protests or controversy, is often standard operating procedure for that entire industry. Our aim is NOT to get into an adversarial situation/confrontation with a particular company or corporate representative but, rather, to encourage consumers to select
compassionate alternative products.
EXTRA PRECAUTION/PROTECTION
When possible don’t even mention the name or show the sign/identity of the slaughterhouse, factory farm or supermarket.
If you cannot avoid it, and do identify the target of the action, then you need to refrain from advocating and simply report on what the demonstrators are doing.
ATTRIBUTE
Contributors take care to attribute any claims by any organization or individual to the organization making the claim and do not uncritically accept/repeat any claims as fact.
Example: “So and so says….” “The protesters contend… claim…
allege.”
Contributors avoid spewing statistics that are not verifiable and properly sourced.
STICK TO FEELINGS, GENERALITIES, MODIFIERS
Contributors do NOT express opinions/observations that are beyond their level of expertise. None of our contributors are veterinarians or medical doctors and do not profess to be.
It’s fine to say, “Seeing these animals in these trucks makes me feel sick.” That’s your feeling. Or, “Look at the condition of the animals in this truck.”
It’s not ok to say, “These animals are clearly sick.” Or “Eating these animals will make you sick.”
If an animal appears to be clearly dead, you can say “This animal appears to be dead.” Even better? “Vigil attendees point out this animal appears to be dead.” Appears is a great modifier to use. Example: “These animals appear to be very confused and stressed. They appear extremely thirsty. Look how they’re drinking up this water.”
There are many ways to point out that something is amiss or morally wrong without making specific declarations. Examples are: “This is gut-wrenching.” “It takes me days to recover from this experience.” “People need to see this to understand what’s really behind their food choices.”
Contributors aim to speak in generalities because: the more specific a claim is, the more likely it is to be incorrect. For example: Don’t say: “These chickens are all 42 days old.” Instead say: “Factory farm animals are often killed when they are just babies.”
Avoid small disputes. For example: if protesters claim they emailed the company and didn’t get a response, that’s a boring subplot that could end up being disputed. Consumers don’t care about those side issues. The angle to focus should always be on: consumers can make all of this suffering stop. The suffering is unnecessary!
CAN DO’S
In today’s media landscape, news organizations have points of view. Fox News is considered conservative, MSNBC is considered liberal. The ideal of perfect objectivity in reporting has fallen by the wayside.
The world’s most respected journalistic entities, like the New York Times, also have editorial boards that publish their own opinions on issues of the day. The paper also publishes opinion pieces submitted by individuals.
So, our nonprofit also has a viewpoint. We speak for voiceless animals who cannot speak for themselves. We highlight the injustice that others ignore. We express that animals have rights: the right to live free of violence, including forcible impregnation, offspring abduction, torture and slaughter.
Contributors are free and encouraged to express their belief in veganism and animal rights in any context.
Contributors are free and encouraged to promote veganism/animal rights when reporting on: VegFests, vegan restaurants, vegan cooking demos, vegan products, consumers trends, activism trends, conferences, convergences, marches, vigils, cubes, demonstrations, meetups, meetings, galas, parties,
organizations, movement leaders, social media influencers, celebrities, activists, authors, documentarians, chefs, ordinary vegans.
Do NOT be an animal activist when the story/LIVE video concerns a protest/action against a private corporation/institution/individual being criticized and/or accused of cruelties by an animal rights group or individual. Then, you go neutral and simply observe, ask basic questions and invite the other side on. This is sometimes more powerful as you have the credibility of a journalist reporting on a protest.
Example 1: Be a proud vegan when reporting on Beyond Meat becoming available at Del Taco! It’s all positive. Give Del Taco props for adding the menu item. Praise Beyond Meat all you want. Urge Del Taco to make this option
available at all Del Taco’s around the nation. Don’t attack Del Taco for continuing to offer animal products.
Example 2: Promote animal rights/veganism at a vigil outside a slaughterhouse, factory farm, or supermarket. Do not attack the slaughterhouse, factory farm, or supermarket. Talk to the participants about why there are there, how they FEEL, when they went vegan, what they would say to consumers.
SUGGESTED FACTS TO MENTION THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED
• ANIMAL AGRICULTURE IS A LEADING CAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE GREENHOUSE GASES THAN ALL TRANSPORTATION COMBINED.
• PROCESSED MEAT, WHICH INCLUDES BACON, SAUSAGE, DELI SLICES & HOT DOGS, IS OFFICIALLY CARCINOGENIC, ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
• HUMANS SLAUGHTER MORE THAN 80 BILLION LAND
ANIMALS A YEAR, NOT INCLUDING FISH.
• HUMANS KILL 1-3 TRILLION SEA ANIMALS EACH YEAR.
• UP TO 2,500 GALLONS OF WATER ARE NEEDED TO
PRODUCE 1 POUND OF BEEF.
• ANIMAL AGRICULTURE IS A LEADING CAUSE OF: HABITAT DESTRUCTION, SPECIES EXTINCTION, WATER POLLUTION & OCEAN DEAD ZONES.
• FACTORY FARM ANIMALS IN THE U.S. PRODUCE SEVERAL MILLION POUNDS OF EXCREMENT EVERY MINUTE.
• 1-2 ACRES OF RAINFOREST ARE CLEARED EVERY SECOND, MUCH OF IT FOR ANIMAL AGRICULTURE, EITHER TO CREATE GRAZING LAND FOR CATTLE OR TO GROW CROPS TO FEED FARM ANIMALS.
• FARM ANIMALS EAT A LOT MORE THAN THEY PRODUCE AS FOOD.
• ABOUT 3/4’s OF ALL ANTIBIOTICS SOLD IN THE U.S. ARE USED ON FACTORY FARM ANIMALS.
As a contributor, you are volunteering your time and services and you are doing so at your own risk. You agree to assume any and all risks, whether now known or unknown, in connection with your activities as a contributor. You also agree to indemnify and/or hold UnchainedTV harmless for any injuries or damages sustained by you or any third party in connection with your activities as a contributor.
UnchainedTV reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or amend the Contributors Code of Conduct in any way and at any time, without notice to you. It is each contributor’s responsibility to periodically monitor our website for updates. Your continued contribution to UnchainedTV (and the Jane Unchained News Network nonprofit EIN: 82-3892784) signifies your acceptance of any new or modified terms and conditions as may be published
on our website, and your agreement to abide by them.
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