Editorial statement

Here are a few explanations about ethics: what I do and what I do not do.

Links to external sites

• Unlike what some other web sites do, links to external sites were chosen for the quality of their content.
  • I have never accepted to a trade a link to another site for a link from that site to meadmadecomplicated.org.
  • I do not make any money from sites to which I link.
• No list can be exhaustive. That I do not refer to a book or a site does not necessarily mean that I think it is not worthwhile. it may be that I do not know of it.
• I try to valuate the value of the information provided by books and sites but -- especially for the latter -- it is sometimes hard to tell whether a source is objective and honest or not. Some sites are created or supported by companies selling alcohol, their point of view on the effects of alcohol on health or on the law concerning alcohol consumption and sale (such as shipping laws in the US) is sometimes closer to lobbying than to information. The quality and honesty of all sources cannot be thoroughly verified. The reader is therefore advised to make use of one's common sense to overcome my mistakes.
• hydreaumiel.org is the French version of meadmadecomplicated.org.

Citing sources and plagiarism

• As far as possible, sources used are listed at the bottom of each page.
• Some older pages still use numbers for references; this system which is not quite suitable for a wb site is being dropped. This system will disappear when pages are updated.
• If you find a page in this site which looks a lot like a page tou saw somewhere else and if this somewhere else is not cited, please let me know.
  • Either I forgot to cite the source, which would then be done quickly,
  • or mead made complicated has been plagiarised...

Advertising and income

• This site has no advertissements.
• This site does not get money from sites toward which it has a link.
• This site is not related to any industry, company, lobby or other.
• This site has no link (financial or other) with any person or company with self-interest in mead as a whole or in one particular mead.

Journalistic ethics

Here are sonme excepts from the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional journalists

"Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:

• Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
• [...]
• Never plagiarize.
• [...]
• Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
• [...]
• Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
• Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

"[...]

"Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.
Journalists should:

• Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
• Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
• Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
• Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
• Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
• Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
• Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news."