Media Law: Codes of Conduct

There are three main codes of conduct within the journalism profession, each with its own specific set of rules and guidelines. The main codes of conduct comes from The National Unions of Journalists (NUJ) because it is our own self written code. In the past most media organisations, especially the BBC would only employ people who were members of the NUJ unions. This is not compulsory today, however if you break any part of the code you are automatically removed from the union and are very likely to be sacked by your employer.

Alternatively Ruppert Murdoch has established another code of conduct for his multi-media empire. The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) was created by Murdoch in order to remove the intervention of trade unions who has no codes of conduct. This led to many controversial stories in Murdoch's publications, most notably The Hillsbrorough disaster in April 1989. The disaster at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest was abandoned six minutes into the game, due to a stampede of fans causing a crush and the death of 96 Liverpool fans. Kelvin Mckenzie, the editor of The Sun at the time of the disaster ordered a publication blaming the Liverpool fans for the deaths and accusing fellow supporters in intervening in the help of trying to revive some of the supporters.

This led to uproar throughout Liverpool and the citizens of Merseyside decided to boycott The Sun and this remain to this very day with many Liverpool fans referring to the paper as "the scum". It would take 15 years for The Sun to produce an written apology to the city of Liverpool in 2004.

The PCC was then brought in to control these problems and if any journalist working for News Corporation breaks the editors code then they will face a tribunal in front of members of "the establishment". The likely outcome for any journalist is being dismissed from their employment and given no compensation.

The third main code for journalists is the BBC producers guidelines. These were brought into affect to cover the problematic areas within the BBC.

The OFCOM code of conduct is guidelines set out for commercial television channels, such as ITV and Sky who must have a license to broadcast and have to abide to the OFCOM code.

I will go into further details in the main guidelines set out by the NUJ code of conduct because it is the code written by journalists for journalists. For each point I will express my own opinion of what I think it means written in Blue. 


1. At all times upholds and defends the principle of media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed. I feel this means as a journalist we must abide to the code and act in a respectful and ethical way towards our peers and the industry with what we write in our views and opinions. Ensuring that we do not bring the profession into disrepute. 


2. Strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair. A journalist must ensure that everything they are is in the public interest. It should not have any form of malice that may results in prosecution for defamation, slander or libel. 


3. Does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies. To ensure that everything you right as a journalist is accurate and the information used is fair. If any information is correct, you put your hands up and admit you have made a mistake and try to rectify it. 


4. Differentiates between fact and opinion. Always ensure that everything you write is factual and do not give your own biased opinion. This is different when written in a column or opinions page, but ensure that every word written is abiding the code.


5. Obtains material by honest, straightforward and open means, with the exception of investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means. As long as you are not working for The News of the World, ensure that you do not try by obtain information through subterfuge. It means no "camera in the bag" job, no phone-tapping, no hacking into someone computer. Make sure that everything you do in done in the correct way with permission from your editor. 


6. Does nothing to intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest. Never under any circumstances try to write something that is intruding someone person life and could potentially defame them within society. Ensure that if you are taken a photograph that the person is engaging in a public act e.g. Princess Caroline of Monaco. 


7. Protects the identity of sources who supply information in confidence and material gathered in the course of her/his work. Always protect your source and if you have to go to jail, you go to jail. We must protect the journalists written code and be careful before we decided to give someone protection. A perfect example of this would be the investigative stories into the Birmingham Six or the Omagh Bombing by World in Action.


8. Resists threats or any other inducements to influence, distort or suppress information. Never be influenced or threatened by anyone who trying to influence you by trying to change your story. The NUJ guidelines are there to protect us as journalists and can also protects you if you face any danger. Also do not accept any bribes because this will tarnish your reputation and destroy your career. 


9. Takes no unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of her/his duties before the information is public knowledge. Do not under any circumstance publish any information until you know that the relevant parties have been informed. The prime example of this is a death of someone in the military on the front line (Afghanistan/ Iraq) until you know that the family has been informed and the MOD have given permission to release the information. 


10. Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation. Never discriminate against anyone that is different in any way. Never create any unbiased opinion about any individual because it is more than likely that you will end up in court. 


11. Does not by way 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. Under no circumstances must you endorse any product that is given to you. You can enjoy the product by all mean, but never endorse it in your writing.


12. Avoids plagiarism. Basically, never use anyones work without their permission or you will be sacked and will likely be sued by the individual. 


The NUJ code is like green kryptonite to journalists as it is the guidelines set out to protect us and to ensure that we are abiding by the law and always acting in the public interest.