The Hoya’s editorial coverage abides by the following journalistic principles:

Objectivity: All stories should be reported without bias or partiality. Stories should make every possible attempt to fairly represent all relevant sides of a given issue. It is required that reporters do not cover stories that may create any conflicts of interest, or that editors do not edit any stories that may create any conflicts of interest.

Balance: The Hoya’s editorial coverage should attempt to most accurately reflect the interests of the campus community as a whole, rather than any particular group or faction on campus. The scope of the coverage should reflect the overall sentiments and interests of the Georgetown community.

Neutrality: The Hoya’s editorial coverage should not attempt to necessarily alter the opinions or belief of the Georgetown community or any of its constituents, but rather should strive to provide the informed reader with relevant, objective and complete information so that he/she may form his/her own educated opinions.

Priority for stories is based on the following criteria, in no particular order:

Timeliness: Priority should be given to stories concerning events that took place closest to the date of publication. The Hoya seeks to report all stories all breaking news stories in the issue immediately following their occurrence. For non-breaking stories (such as feature stories) assignment priority should take into consideration the timeliness of the events being covered.

Relevance: Priority should be given to stories that have been most pressing on and around campus or may have the greatest long-term effect on the university and its surrounding community. Priority is not simply given to stories that have involved the greatest number of people, but rather to stories that overall had made or will make a greater effect on the campus community as a whole.

Locality: Priority should be given to stories that have the greatest effect or potential effect on the constituents of Georgetown University – students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, local residents, parents, etc. While the profile is often higher for local stories with national or international significance, priority for those stories should be determined based on their overall effect on the campus community.

Newness: Priority should be given to stories with more information that is new to the university community. As a general rule, stories that represent a divergence in trends should be given priority over those that represent a continuation of previous trends.

Readership Interest: Priority should be given to stories that our general readership would find more interesting to read.