MAI on the professional level (Part two)Codes of ethics

Session 6

Photo: imago/ecomedia/robert fishman

July 2013 Session 5 – MAI on the professional level II 2

What is the code of ethics/code of conduct for?An accountability instrument and...

-A journalistic code of ethics (or codes of conduct) refers to a set of principles designed to:• guide the everyday professional behaviour • express central values of the profession• emphasize duties and responsibilities of the

professionals, organizations and/or institutions

There is a large variety of kinds of ethical codes: • International organizations (e.g. IFJ Declaration of

Principles on the Conduct of Journalists) • National codes• Codes for particular media organizations

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Deontological and teleological approach

Some codes express values rather than principles.The principles are expressed in different ways:• As categorical imperatives – deontological

approach, e.g. “… The journalist shall report only in accordance with facts of which he/she knows the origin.” (IFJ DPCJ)• As a rule that includes a dilemma

/teleological approach/, e.g. “Materials violating the privacy of an individual can only be disseminated if public interest outweighs the right to privacy.” (Estonian Code of Ethics, clause 4.9)

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Codes of ethics in 14 European and Arab countries

The code of ethics may be regarded as one possible instrument of accountability. The code alone doesn't ensure accountability. To this end the principles laid down by the code need first to be acknowledged as common by the journalistic community.

The code of ethics could be used for:• Encouraging ethical reflection• Pressure tools for responsible conduct • Guidance in daily situations• Express shared professional values• Indicate to society that media professional’s

commitment to be accountable

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Differentiation on the basis of control of compliance and possible sanctions [1]

Three types of codes can be distinguished.

Without any control – these are codes that are meant to be as a point of reference for journalists. No institution or organization ensures compliance with the code (i.e. in France, in Netherlands the editors code of ethics and in Romania the newer code of the Convention of Media Organizations).

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Differentiation on the basis of control of compliance and possible sanctions [2]

Controlled without sanctions – these are codes that are used by press councils or similar committees to monitor the media or examine complaints made against the journalists.

The possible sanctions are usually limited with the obligation to publish a correction or the verdict of the regulative body (i.e. in Germany, code of PCC in the UK, one of the Estonian press councils). In other cases the publications have no obligation to publish the verdict (e.g. in Austria, in Finland, in Switzerland, the Estonian publishers’ press council, the charter of Conference of Polish Media).

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Differentiation on the basis of control of compliance and possible sanctions [3]

Controlled with sanctions – these are codes that are used by journalists' associations or unions to assess the conduct of their members. Possible sanctions range from reprimands to expulsion from association.

In case of Italy (Ordine dei Giornalisti) and Jordania the membership in the professional association is required to work in the journalistic field. Expulsion is a possible sanction also in two of the Polish associations (SDP and SDRP) both with their own codes and special “journalistic courts”.

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Which of the following have most impact on journalist’s behavior in your country?

Tunisia

Jordan

Spain

Italy

France

Romania

Estonia

Poland

Switzerland

Austria

Germany

Netherlands

Finland

United Kingdom

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Laws regulating the mediaProfessional codes of ethicsPress councilRegulatory authority

14 MediaAct countries. Frequencies: “high impact” and “very high impact” (4+5) in percent

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FIN EST UK CH TN F Ø NL A GER E JOR PL ROM I0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Professional codes of ethics

Means

Means: From 1 (“very low impact”) to 5 ( “very high impact”)

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How to apply the code of ethics? Exercise of functional reading I: truthfulness in codes of ethics

One of the most common principles in the codes of ethics is the journalist's commitment to truth. Truth is an universal value and stating that journalist should be committed to it may be too vague to be a guideline for a practicing journalist. For this reason different codes set out different guidelines and principles that clarify what it means to be truthful.

Read the following excerpts from various codes of ethics and decide how are these guidelines tied to the idea of truthfulness and in which way they differ from one another.

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Exercise of functional reading I: TRUTH

Excerpt 1: Media Ethics Charter (Poland)The principle of truth - which means that journalists, editors, producers and broadcasters do their best so that the information conveyed reflects the truth; they report the facts scrupulously and without deformation in their proper context, and in case of publicising false information they immediately correct it.http://ethicnet.uta.fi/poland/media_ethics_charter Excerpt 2: Guidelines from the Netherlands Press Council2.2.4. A journalist does not need to prove the factual accuracy of rumours in order to publish them. He does have to state the fact that it concerns a rumour, and he must be able to demonstrate that the rumours he bases his story on are indeed circulating and that publication thereof serves a social interest.http://ethicnet.uta.fi/netherlands/guidelines_from_the_netherlands_press_council

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Excerpt 3: Deontological Code for the Journalistic Profession (Federation of the Spanish Press)13. The commitment to seek the truth means that a journalist always informs about facts whose origins he/she knows, he/she does not falsify documents nor does he/she leave out essential information, he/she does not publish information which is false, misleading or distorted. http://ethicnet.uta.fi/spain/deontological_code_for_the_journalistic_profession

Excerpt 4: Editors' Code of Practice (Press Complaints Commission)1. iii) The Press, whilst free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html

Excerpt 5: Deontological Code (Catalan Journalists Association)2. To diffuse only information duly founded, avoiding in all cases making assertions or offering non concrete and baseless data, which may hurt or impair the dignity of individuals. Neither to originate unjustified damage or to discredit institutions and public and private agencies, or employ outrageous expressions or assessments.http://ethicnet.uta.fi/catalonia/deontological_code

Exercise of functional reading I: TRUTH

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Excerpt 6: Declaration of the Duties and Rights of a Journalist (Swiss Press Council)3) Not to publish information, documents, images or sound recordings of which the origin is unknown to the journalist. Not to suppress information or any essential elements of a story. Not to misrepresent any text, document, image or sound recording, nor people's expressed opinions. If information is unconfirmed to clearly say so. To indicate when photographic and/or sound material has been combined to make a montage. http://presserat.ch/24350.htm

Excerpt 7: The code of journalistic ethics of SDP (Association of Polish Journalists)3. Opinions may be biased, but should not distort the facts or be the outcome of external pressure.http://ethicnet.uta.fi/poland/the_code_of_journalistic_ethics

Excerpt 8: Guidelines for journalists (Finland)10. Any information obtained must be checked as thoroughly as possible, including cases where the information has been previously published.http://ethicnet.uta.fi/finland/guidelines_for_journalists

Exercise of functional reading I: TRUTH

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Another common principle in the codes of ethics is the journalist's commitment of being fair. Just like truthfulness, it may be too vague to be a guideline for a practicing journalist. For the same reason codes of ethics set out various guidelines and principles that clarify how to ensure fairness.

Read the following excerpts from various codes of ethics and decide how are these guidelines tied to the idea of fairness and in which way they differ from one another.

Exercise of functional reading II: FAIRNESS

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Excerpt 1: National Union of Journalists' code of conduct (UK)A journalist strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair.

Excerpt 2: The code of ethics for the Estonian press (Estonia)4.2. In the case of materials concerning a controversy, the journalist shall hear all sides of the conflict. http://ethicnet.uta.fi/estonia/the_code_of_ethics_for_the_estonian_press

Excerpt 3: The code of journalistic ethics of SDP (Association of Polish Journalists)2. Information should be balanced and exact, so that the recipient can differentiate between facts and assumptions or gossip. Information should also be presented in the appropriate context and rest on trustworthy sources which - if possible - represent various points of view.http://ethicnet.uta.fi/poland/the_code_of_journalistic_ethics

Excerpt 4: Editors' Code of Practice (Press Complaints Commission)Opportunity to reply: a fair opportunity for reply to inaccuracies must be given when reasonably called for.http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html

Exercise of functional reading II: FAIRNESS

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Besides the common principles the code of ethics usually lays down the responsibilities. Depending on the code the responsible party may be either an individual journalist/editor, the publication/organization or the press in general.

Read the following excerpts from various codes of ethics and decide to whom and for what is responsibility given in each of them.

Exercise of functional reading III: RESPONSIBILITY

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Excerpt 1: National Union of Journalists' code of conduct (UK)3. A Journalist does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies.http://www.nuj.org.uk/files/NUJ_Code_of_Conduct.pdf

Excerpt 2: The editors' code of practice (Press Complaints Commission, UK)The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html

Excerpt 3: The code of ethics for the Estonian press (Estonia)A journalist shall be responsible for his or her own statements and work. Media organizations shall undertake to prevent the publication of inaccurate, distorted or misleading information.http://ethicnet.uta.fi/estonia/the_code_of_ethics_for_the_estonian_press

Exercise of functional reading III: RESPONSIBILITY

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Excerpt 4: The code of journalistic ethics of SDP (Association of Polish Journalists)24. Both the author of a publication in the press, radio, television or the Internet, as well as the editor, publisher or broadcaster of the content are responsible for violations against the principles of journalistic ethics. http://ethicnet.uta.fi/poland/the_code_of_journalistic_ethics

Excerpt 5: Guidelines for journalists (Finland)1. A journalist is primarily responsible to the readers, listeners and viewers. They have the right to know what is happening in society.http://ethicnet.uta.fi/finland/guidelines_for_journalists

Excerpt 6: Charter of the professional duties of French journalists (the 1938 edition, unchanged until 2011)“A journalist worthy of the name assumes responsibility for all that he writes, even anonymous.”http://ethicnet.uta.fi/france/charter_of_the_professional_duties_of_french_journalists

Exercise of functional reading III: RESPONSIBILITY

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Read the various codes of ethics from the following links and find who should be responsible for the respect of children's or minors' rights.•  The Code of Ethics for the Estonian Press:

http://ethicnet.uta.fi/estonia/the_code_of_ethics_for_the_estonian_press• Deontological Code for the Journalistic Profession (Federation of the

Spanish Press): http://ethicnet.uta.fi/spain/deontological_code_for_the_journalistic_profession

• The Code of Journalistic Ethics of SDP (Association of Polish Journalists): http://ethicnet.uta.fi/poland/the_code_of_journalistic_ethics

• Treviso Charter (charter by National Federation of the Italian Press and Journalists' Association): http://ethicnet.uta.fi/italy/journalistic_activity_and_protection_of_minors_treviso_charter_revised

• Editors' Code of Practice (Press Complaints Commission): http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html

Exercise of functional reading IV: THE CODES

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References & selected articles for further reading

Cooper, T. 1990. Comparative international media ethics. In: Journal of Mass Media Ethics 5 (1): 3-14.Laitila, T. 1995. Codes of Ethics in Europe. In: Reports on Media Ethics in Europe. Reports on Media Ethics in Europe, edited by Nordernstreng, K. University of Tampere, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Series B 41. Limor, Y. and I. Himelboim. 2006. Journalism and Moonlighting: An International Comparison of 242 Codes of Ethics. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 21(4): 265-285. Media Development Center. 2007. Freedom of speech in South East Europe: Media independence and self-regulation. Sofia: Media Development Center. Himelboim, I. and Y. Limor. 2011. Media Institutions, News Organizations, and the Journalistic Social Role Worldwide: A Cross-National and Cross-Organizational Study of Codes of Ethics. Mass Communication & Society 14(1): 71-92.