Transcript Purpose Don`t bang a drum

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EDITORIAL ETHICS
Journalism with integrity
1: Why I am doing this story?
Purpose
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Don’t bang a drum
What is my journalistic
purpose?
What is my personal
motivation?
How can I include others with
different perspectives and
diverse ideas?
Who are the stakeholders
and what are their
motivations?
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1: Why I am doing this story?
Purpose
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Do no harm
What if the roles were
reversed? How would I feel?
What are the possible
consequences of my actions?
What are my alternatives to
maximise my truth-telling
responsibility and minimise
harm?
Can I justify my decisions? To
my colleagues? To the
stakeholders? To the public?
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2: Personal conduct
Motivation
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Eyes wide open
Seek truth and report it as
fully as possible – eyes wide
open
Act independently – owe
nobody and don’t seek
favours or favourites
Minimise harm – had it not
been for you, the world
would never know
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2: Personal conduct
Motivation
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Don’t follow the flock
Assess all facts – don’t ignore
the uncomfortable, or that which
goes against your script
Independent sources – don’t
follow the flock, find fresh
voices and perspectives.
Thoroughly check the validity of
information – take nothing at
face value.
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3: Attitudes of mind
Purpose
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Voice to the voiceless
Be honest, fair, and
courageous in gathering and
reporting.
Give voice to the voiceless
and hold the powerful
accountable.
Guard vigorously the role a
free press plays in an open
society.
Seek out and disseminate
competing perspectives.
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3: Attitudes of mind
Purpose
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Remain free of
associations and activities
that may compromise.
Be compassionate for
those affected by your
actions.
Treat all with respect, not
as means to your
journalistic ends.
Free of any chains
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4: Accuracy
Sourced facts
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More important than speed
Output must be well sourced,
based on sound evidence,
thoroughly tested and presented in
clear, precise language
We should be honest and open
about what we don't know and
avoid unfounded speculation
Accuracy is more important than
speed and it is often more than
simply a question of getting the
facts right.
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4: Accuracy
Verified facts
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Weigh all facts
All the relevant facts
and information should
be weighed to get at
the truth
If an issue is
controversial, relevant
opinions as well as
facts may need to be
considered
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4: Accuracy
We achieve accuracy by:
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Fact checking is essential
The accurate gathering of
material using first-hand sources
wherever possible
Checking and cross-checking the
facts
Validating the authenticity of
documentary evidence and
digital material
Corroborating claims and
allegations made by
contributors wherever possible.
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5: Impartiality and diversity
Wide range of opinions
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Multiple strands of thought
We must reflect a wide range
of opinion and should explore
conflicting views
No strand of thought should be
knowingly un-reflected or
under-represented in our output
We should produce content
about any subject as long as
there are good editorial
reasons for doing so
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5: Impartiality and diversity
Explore both sides
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Never offer a distorted view
We can explore or report on a
specific aspect of an issue or
provide an opportunity for a
single view to be expressed
But we should not misrepresent
opposing views and must offer
a right of reply
We must ensure we avoid bias
on controversial subjects
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5: Impartiality and diversity
Causing offence
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Public interest test
We will sometimes need to
report on issues or interview
people whose views may
cause serious offence to
many in our audiences
We must be convinced –
after checking with our
editor - that a clear public
interest outweighs the
possible offence
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6: Fairness & consent
Public interest test
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Obtaining consent
We will be open, honest and
straightforward in our dealings with
the public unless there is a clear
public interest in doing otherwise
People will normally have
consented to contribute to our
output
Where allegations are being
made, the individuals or
organisations concerned should
normally have the right of reply
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7: Privacy
Respect privacy
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Challenge in the public interest
We must not infringe privacy
without good reason
wherever in the world it is
operating
It is essential in order to
exercise our rights of
freedom of expression and
information that we work
within a framework which
respects an individual's
privacy and treats them
fairly
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8: Religion
Respect individual freedoms
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Protect the vulnerable
We respect the fundamental human
right to exercise freedom of
thought, conscience and religion,
this includes an individual's freedom
to worship, teach, practise and
observe
At the same time, we recognise our
duty to protect the vulnerable and
avoid unjustified offence or likely
harm
We aim to achieve this by ensuring
our output is not used to denigrate
the beliefs or otherwise of others
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9: Independence & integrity
Stay free of partisan interests
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Never endorse products
We must be independent of
partisan interests
We must not endorse or
appear to endorse any other
organisation, its products,
activities or services
We should not give undue
prominence to commercial
products or services
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The source of the following material in this module along with reference to the
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