ATCA Member
Code of Conduct
1) Collegiality is expected within the Association. Members must treat their colleagues with professional and personal respect, courtesy and integrity. Ad hominem attacks will not be tolerated in Association meetings and activities, and is strongly discouraged in our profession as a whole.
2) Members of the Association are expected to maintain high standards of journalistic practice with respect to the integrity and independence of their reporting and reviewing. Such standards include, but are not limited to, confirmation of news and information by reliable sources, acknowledgement of sources, accuracy of quotes, and freedom from conflicts of interest (actual or perceived).
3) Complimentary tickets or merchandise are intended for use only by members and their guests (if any). Complimentary tickets/items not used by a member should be returned to the giver (typically the theater company or media representative). It is forbidden to re-gift them to third parties or to sell them. Asking for more — whether tickets, merchandise, or anything else — is discouraged unless offered.
4) A member must adhere to the policies of the individual theaters he/she attends with respect to the use of cell phones and other mobile devices, cameras, or other recording/photographic devices, smoking, and bringing food or drink into the playhouse. Members should be aware that the various performing unions (AEA, SDC among them) forbid the use of recording or image-taking devices during performances (including curtain calls) unless expressly authorized in advance.
5) In the course of performing their duties, members should be discreet in discussing productions or performances in public spaces before, after, and during the performance. Members should respect the reticence of colleagues who prefer not to discuss their reactions.
6) Members must be sensitive to issues of racism, sexism, homophobia, diversity, and under-represented populations.
7) Members should respect the reputation of the Association and not invoke ATCA’s name or their membership in it to intimidate, coerce, or establish their bona fides.
8) Members recognize that their postings on social media — often done in an instant — can reflect upon their professional status and reputation and also on the status and reputation of the Association.
9) Members should recognize that failure to abide by this agreement may jeopardize ATCA’s relationship with media representatives, event hosts, the theater community, and others who offer the organization services or hospitality. It also compromises our reputation, both individually and as the only national professional organization for theater critic.