NEWS ETHICS

E T H I CS I N

J OU R N A L I S

M

ETHICS Ethics is a scheme of good moral values. They affect how people make choices and decisions in

their lives as well as how they live their lives. It focuses on what’s good for people and society.

THE 12 MAIN JOURNALISM ETHICS AND STANDARDS:

1. Maintains and defends the code of media freedom and the principles of the right of freedom of expression as well as the right the public have to be informed.

2. Always ensures that information distributed is honest, accurate and fair.

3. Does their most to correct damaging errors.4. Distinguishes the difference between fact and

opinion.5. Attains material by honest, straightforward and

open processes, with the exclusion of investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means.

6. Does nothing to interfere anybody’s private life and grief unless this is justified by intervening consideration of the public interest.

7. Protects the identity of sources that give information anonymously and material gathered in the course of their work.

8. Resists threats or any other enticements to

influence, misrepresent or suppress information and does not take no personal advantage of information that is gained in the course of obligations before the information goes public.

9. Produces no material that is likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the basis of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, faith, legal status, disability, married status, or sexual orientation.

10. Through the use of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial product or service save for the promotion of her/his own work or of the medium by which she/he is employed.

11. A journalist should normally pursue the consent of an appropriate adult when interviewing or photographing a child for a story about their well-being.

12. Avoids plagiarism.

WHY DO JOURNALISTS NEED ETHICAL GUIDELINES?

• To prevent breaking the law• So, journalists don’t invade other peoples rights, for example

somebody's privacy • To maintain a professional dignity • To keep a balance between fair competition and professional unity. • To prevent damaging the reputation of journalist's profession in

general• To avoid undermining people's trust in the mass media