Ethics

All ACME members voluntarily pledge to uphold these ethical standards

1. ACME members respect diversity of people, cultures, and general opinions and will strive to make our membership reflect this commitment to diversity. ACME members agree that our vision of media reform holds true regardless of individual opinions on issues outside those articulated by our by-laws and vision.

2. ACME members recognize that funding from large corporations profiting from media ownership and production creates a potential conflict of interest with ACME's vision and goals. ACME members shall disclose all income derived from major media corporations, including income received from corporate media subsidiaries, affiliates, and their lobbyist and public relations groups.

3. ACME members recognize that it is their responsibility to be thorough and truthful in all of their endeavors, and will represent ACME's position in a clear and direct manner supported by specific evidence, research, and sources wherever possible.

4. ACME members understand that our media education, production, and reform goals can be achieved in a variety of ways. We understand that ACME's position must reflect the consensus of its constituents while also respecting the right to differences of opinion. Whenever possible, we pledge to cooperate with other ACME members to further ACME's vision by presenting a unified front.

5. ACME members address concerns or disagreements with ACME's position or tactics first to our Board and fellow members. While we may not always agree with the consensus opinion, we shall try to support the process by which it was reached.

The Board of ACME, its employees, and affiliates shall also strive to uphold this code of ethics. ACME represents a long-term commitment to media literacy, media democracy, media justice, and independent media. As an organization, we shall strive to be responsive to our members, transparent in our finances, and open in our decision-making processes.

This code of ethics represents an ideal. It also represents a starting point for the world we would all like to live in. We pledge to address violations of this ethical code in a manner that also reflects these ideals and this vision. While we reserve the right to decline or rescind membership at any time for a violation of this code, such decisions will be reached by consensus of the board of ACME, with full transparency and respect for all those involved. No vote on membership revocation shall take place for either an individual or organization unless that person or group has had the opportunity to present their side of the story in their own words to the board. ACME's Board, regional leaders, and the membership at large shall strive to reinforce and support this code of ethics, working to address problems as they arise.

ACME's Privacy Policy

ACME respects the privacy of its members. ACME will not sell, lend, or otherwise distribute its members' contact information to any other organizations. ACME provides all conference attendees with other attendees' contact information for personal use only. ACME members should not use this information for mass-mailing solicitations. Attendees who do not wish their information to be shared can let ACME know by checking the appropriate box on the registration form, or by directly notifying ACME.

ACME reserves the right to engage in direct mail member solicitation for fundraising and special projects. However, any ACME member wishing to be removed from such a mailing list shall be promptly removed upon request, and shall retain full membership privileges if applicable.