The National Union of Journalists
The Press Sector's Code of Conduct has outlined the principles of UK journalism since 1936. As such, they also follow a code of conduct with which to uphold. These are:
- To uphold and defend the freedom of the press as well as to uphold the right of free expression at all times.
- To strive to ensure that information is honestly obtained, accurate and fair.
- That journalists do their best to remove harmfully inaccurate information.
- That journalists separate fact from fiction.
- To obtain material by honest, straightforward and open means.
- To do nothing to intrude on someone's privacy, grief or distress.
- That journalists protect the identities of sources who supply information in confidence.
- To resist any attempts to influence, distort or suppress information.
- To produce no material likely to offend or encourage hatred or discrimination against people on the grounds of their age, gender, race, skin colour, religion, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.
- To not promote or voice for any commercial service and product.
- That journalists must seek consent from an appropriate adult when interviewing or photographing a child on the topic of their welfare.
- To not purposely imitate other newspaper/journalist's work.
The BBC's Editorial Practices
The British Broadcasting Corporation has a strict policy when it comes to editing, publishing and broadcasting material. This includes:
- To avoid knowingly misleading it's audiences or abusing the BBC's trust.
- To truthful and ensure that what the BBC publishes/broadcasts is as accurate as possible.
- To be impartial and open-minded when examining evidence and weighing up facts.
- To ensure that the BBC's decisions are no influenced by outside interests.
- To protect the vulnerable from harm and avoid causing unjustifiable offence.
- To report stories that are of significance to the BBC's audiences.
- To based publishings/broadcasts on fairness, openness, honesty and straight dealing.
- To respect privacy and not infringe it with probable cause.
- To ensure the dignity of children and protect their emotional and psychical well-being.
- To be transparent about content and to protect the identities of the sources who provide them.
- To be accountable to their audiences and acknowledge and correct mistakes.
Advertising Code of Practice
The Advertising Code of Practice was established in 1961 to listen to people's complaints about various adverts and then judge for themselves whether they should be sanctioned or not. This code includes:
- To avoid misleading people and prove that claims are true
- To avoid causing harm and offence to people
- To avoid causing children psychological, psychical and moral harm
- To respect people's right to privacy
- To ensure that all environmentally-friendly or "green" claims made in ads are accurate
- To ensure that all health claims, advice, qualifications and statistics in ads are medically proven and accurate
- To ensure that all health and nutrition claims, claims about vitamins and minerals, and formula information in ads are accurate and not misleading
- To ensure that all ads do not heavily promote religion, criticise other faiths or encourage taking parts in the Dark Arts (card reading, exorcisms, seances, satanism, fortune telling, etc)
- To ensure that all ads do not promote gambling in a harmful manner (claiming that gambling is an alternative to employment, claim that winning is easier than it actually is, etc)
- To ensure that all ads do not portray drinking vast quantities of alcohol as entertaining, humorous or makes who drink excessively popular or attractive (especially when it comes to drunk driving)
Legal Restrictions
In the business of Media, employees must observe certain rules. They cannot simply say what they like, go where they like or record what they like. The legal issues that must be considered include:
Libel Law
Libel is the defamation (damage) of a person's character using written words in text.
Slander Law
Slander is the defamation (damage) of a person's character using verbally spoken words.
Copyright
Copyright means that you must not use other people's work and claim it as your own. If you want to use someone else's work, you must ask for written permission. You always need to be aware of the issue of copyright, and how it impacts on the working life of a media professional.
Censorship
Censorship means that you have to abide by decisions of government on what you can print or report about certain sensitive issues.
Race Discrimination Act 1965/Race Equality Act 2010
Racist incidents, ranging from criminal harassment and abuse to physical violence, are offences under the criminal law. Publishing and distributing materials, such as leaflets and newspapers, that are likely to incite racial hatred is also a criminal offence.
Racially offensive material in the media includes media codes of practice. Complaints can be made to the Press Complaints Commission or the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Complaints about racially offensive advertisements should be made to the Advertising Standards Authority.
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