Create MEDIA_ETHICS_STATEMENT.md

MEDIA_ETHICS_STATEMENT.md

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+# Media Ethics Statement
+
+Federal FOIA Intelligence Search is designed to support **ethical journalism,
+academic research, and public-interest investigation**.
+
+---
+
+## Guiding Ethics
+
+This project adheres to principles aligned with:
+- Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
+- Nieman Lab research standards
+- Academic transparency norms
+
+---
+
+## Core Commitments
+
+### Accuracy
+- Citations always link to primary sources
+- AI outputs are labeled and bounded
+
+### Transparency
+- No hidden automation
+- No opaque data processing
+- Clear provenance for every result
+
+### Accountability
+- Users retain responsibility for verification
+- AI is never authoritative
+
+### Harm Minimization
+- No private individuals indexed
+- No inference or profiling tools
+- No amplification of unverified claims
+
+---
+
+## AI-Specific Ethics
+
+- AI is assistive, not determinative
+- AI is opt-in, not default
+- AI is auditable, not opaque
+
+---
+
+## Editorial Independence
+
+This application:
+- Is not affiliated with any government agency
+- Does not promote political positions
+- Does not prioritize or suppress sources
+
+---
+
+## Misuse Prevention
+
+The design explicitly discourages:
+- Sensationalism
+- Automated reporting
+- Data laundering
+- Citation abuse
+
+---
+
+## Final Statement
+
+> Transparency must empower the public without distorting truth.