A journalist must remain independent and free of commitments to businesses, organizations or individuals. It is therefore necessary to avoid, reject and/or refuse any preferential treatment, offer of compensation, gifts and/or payment in exchange
for covering a particular story or covering a particular angle of a story. In addition, if a journalist has a personal relationship with a subject of their story, it is difficult to remain objective. When in doubt over whether a gift or a personal relationship
creates a conflict of interest in writing or reporting, ask a professor for advice.