CANONS OF JOURNALISM

SYED M. SAQIB

Formulas Rules Guidelines A document may outline the mission and

values of the business or organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles based on the organization's core values and the standards to which the professional will be held.

Define Canons?

To perform all the journalistic functions and duties canons or code of ethics are set forth.

The 7 canons of journalism are a necessity to know for all journalists

They were adopted in 1923 by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. They are the basic guidelines on how to conduct yourself as journalists.

considerations of public welfare

Freedom of the press is to be guarded as a vital right of mankind

1st Amendment rights are to be guarded 

The freedom of the press should be taken seriously though and not pushed to any extremes.

RESPONSIBILITY:

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Independence is pretty much saying independence from sources, politics and advertisers

Promotion of any private interest contrary to the general welfare, for whatever reason, is not compatible with honest journalism

Prejudice, in editorial comment which knowingly departs from the truth,

INDEPENDENCE

Good faith with the reader is the foundation of all journalism

SINCERITY, TRUTHFULNESS, ACCURACY:

Sound practice makes clear distinction between news reports and expressions of opinion.

News reports should be free from opinion or bias of any kind.

IMPARTIALITY

A newspaper should not publish unofficial charges affecting reputation or moral character without opportunity given to the accused to be heard ; right practice demands the giving of such opportunity in all cases of serious accusation outside judicial proceedings.

FAIR PLAY

It is the privilege, as it is the duty, of a newspaper to make prompt and complete correction of its own serious mistakes of fact or opinion

Papers should avoid deliberate pandering to vicious instincts such as details of crime and vice.  You don’t want to be called insincere, so make sure you follow the seventh canon.

DECENCY

Reporting the truth is never libel, which makes accuracy very important

  Private persons have privacy rights that must

be balanced against the public interest in reporting information about them.

In Canada, there is no such immunity; reports on public figures must be backed by facts.3.

Some Useful Information:

Public figures have fewer privacy rights in U.S. law, where reporters are protected from a civil case if they have reported without hatred.

  Publishers vigorously defend libel lawsuits

filed against their reporters, usually covered by libel insurance.

Adopted by the General Assembly of the Committee of the Press, 1972

his general meeting of the Press ConsultativeCommittee, held at Karachi on March 17, 1972, decides to adopt the principles of the Codes as herein set  forth.

Current Codes of Ethics

Following are to be avoided in any form of publication, such as articles, news items, photographs and advertisements:

Immorality or obscenity.

Vulgar and derogatory expressions against individuals, institutions or groups

false allegations against individuals, institutions, newspapers or publications

Religious sectarianism; arousing one sect against another

Glamorization of crime

Presentation of news items and comments on events should be fair and objective and there should beno willful departure from facts.

Headlines should not materially distort the contents of the news.

4. Off-the-record briefings should not be published.

5. The journalist should be entitled to protect his sources of information and respect confidence placed in him.

Embargoes on release dates of news, articles and pictures, should be rigorously observed.

Justified corrections or denials sent as a result of any incorrect information published by newspapers, periodicals or news agencies should be published within the shortest possible period of time so as to effectively eliminate the impression created by the original publication which necessitated the issuance of a correction or denial.

Press shall not publish news or comment, photographs or advertisements which may undermine the security of the state or the solidarity of the nation

The press shall refrain from publishing anything likely to undermine the loyalty and allegiance of he Armed Forces of Pakistan.

Dealing with any situation, the press shall restrict itself to factual reporting of events without in any way encouraging or providing any form of disturbance.

No newspaper shall accept in any form or shape any financial and pecuniary advantage or obligations from or on behalf of any foreign country or concern.

The personnel of the Press must never accept any form of bribe or permit personal interest to influence their sense of justice and impartiality.