To participate in the Watchdog City^TM online marketplace as a journalist, one must agree to the Watchdog City Press credentialing voluntary terms and conditions and swear to a series of oaths that are included as part of the journalist account registration process.

Reporters, editors and photojournalists who sign up for a Journalist Account with Watchdog City agree to practice by a series of professional standards as a condition of their participation in the Watchdog City marketplace.

Part of Watchdog City's participation agreement for journalists is that Watchdog City journalists promise to uphold the Watchdog City Journalists Code of Ethics, which is largely based on the tenets of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, and the ethics guidelines of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and major news organizations. These practices are taught in newsrooms around the globe. These are the standards by which journalists hold themselves accountable to the public. They practice these standards to earn the public's trust.

What's more, these standards require journalists to make tangible sacrifices including avoiding conflicts of interest — that can impact a journalist's livelihood. At Watchdog City, we applaud these sacrifices. We have established this Watchdog City^TM credentialing system as a way for journalists to distinguish themselves as practicing standards-based journalism as opposed to "anything goes" in the blogosphere.

Watchdog City's system will also allow new journalists — who may lack old media credentials — to distinguish themselves as practicing bona fide standards-based journalism.

Watchdog City Press^TM Credentialing Terms

Watchdog City journalists agree at account registration to terms which include:
► An identity verification process,

► Disclosure of 10-year work history,

►A pledge to avoid conflicts of interest, refuse bribes, gifts, favors, fees (other than story sales), free travel and special treatment, and shun political involvement, making campaign donations of any kind, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
Watchdog City Journalists agree to avoid secondary employment outside of journalism that may compromise journalistic integrity. Where unavoidable, Watchdog City journalists agree to disclose any secondary employment and unavoidable conflicts of interest to provide transparency to their audience.

► A pledge to uphold the Watchdog City Journalists Code of Ethics, which includes the above and additional standards for practicing journalism, and abide by all Watchdog City marketplace rules, which includes participation in the credibility rating system.

We have established this Watchdog City Press credentialing system as a way for journalists to distinguish themselves as practicing standards-based journalism as opposed to "anything goes" in the blogosphere.