中国新闻事业是中国共产党领导的有中国特色社会主义事业的重要组成部分。新闻工作者要适应形势发展的需要，努力学习和宣传马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想和邓小平建设有中国特色社会主义理论，坚决贯彻执行党的基本路线、基本方针，坚持以科学的理论武装人，以正确的舆论引导人，以高尚的精神塑造人，以优秀的作品鼓舞人，牢牢把握正确的舆论导向，为人民服务，为社会主义服务，为全党全国工作大局服务，为推进社会主义物质文明建设和社会主义精神文明建设，实现我国社会主义现代化的宏伟目标努力奋斗。
继承和发扬党的新闻工作优良传统，树立良好的职业道德，维护新闻工作的严肃性和声誉，对于发挥新闻舆论的引导作用，对于建设一支政治强、业务精、纪律严、作风正的新闻队伍，保证新闻事业健康发展，具有十分重要的意义。树立正确的世界观、人生观、价值观，自觉遵守新闻职业道德，应该是每一个有理想、有抱负、有操守和富于敬业精神的新闻工作者对自己的基本要求。

一、全心全意为人民服务
为人民服务是社会主义道德建设的核心，是社会主义道德的集中体现，也是我国新闻工作的根本宗旨。
新闻工作者要在党的领导下，发挥密切党和政府同人民群众联系的桥梁、纽带作用，坚持对党、对国家负责和对广大群众负责的一致性。
努力使党和政府的方针、政策及时、准确、广泛地同群众见面，为人民群众提供参与政治、经济、文化等社会生活以及了解世界所需要的新闻和信息，热情宣传他们建设社会主义的伟大创造和奉献精神，准确反映他们的愿望、呼声和正当要求。
支持符合人民利益的正确思想和行为，勇于批评、揭露违背人民利益的错误言行和消极腐败现象，积极、正确发挥舆论监督作用。
牢固树立群众观点，满腔热情地做好群众工作，密切联系群众，重视群众来稿，妥善处理群众有关建议、批评、申诉和检举的来信、来访，开展多种多样为群众服务的活动。

二、坚持正确的舆论导向
新闻工作者要增强政治意识、大局意识、责任意识，坚持正确的舆论导向。在新闻报道中，要弘扬爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义的主旋律，动员和团结全国各族人民投身到建设祖国、振兴中华的伟大事业中来。要坚持团结稳定鼓劲、正面宣传为主的方针，造成有利于推进改革开放、建立社会主义市场经济体制、发展社会生产力的舆论，有利于加强社会主义精神文明建设和民主法制建设的舆论，有利于鼓舞和激励人们为国家富强、人民幸福和社会进步而艰苦创业、开拓创新的舆论，有利于人们分清是非、坚持真善美、抵制假恶丑的舆论，有利于国家统一、民族团结、人民心情舒畅、社会政治稳定的舆论。新闻报道不得宣扬色情、凶杀、暴力、愚昧、迷信及其他格调低劣、有害人们身心健康的内容。

三、遵守宪法、法律和纪律
新闻工作者必须在宪法和法律的范围内活动，自觉遵守宪法、法律和宣传纪律。
坚定地宣传、贯彻党的理论、路线、方针、政策。不得利用自己掌握的舆论工具，宣传同中央决定相违背的内容。
维护宪法规定的公民权利，不揭人隐私，不诽谤他人，要通过合法和正当的手段获取新闻，尊重被采访者的声明和正当要求。
维护司法尊严。对于司法部门审理的案件不得在法庭判决之前作定性、定罪和案情的报道；公开审理案件的报道，应符合司法程序。
严格遵守和正确宣传国家的民族政策和宗教政策，坚决维护各民族的团结，维护安定团结的政治局面。严格保守党和国家的秘密，自觉维护国家的利益和安全。

四、维护新闻的真实性
真实是新闻的生命。新闻工作者要坚持发扬实事求是的作风，深入基层、深入实际、深入群众，加强调查研究，报实情、讲真话，不得弄虚作假，不得为追求轰动效应而捏造、歪曲事实。
力求全面地看问题，防止主观性、片面性，努力做到从总体上、本质上把握事物的真实性。
采写和发表新闻要客观公正。不得从个人或小团体利益出发，利用自己掌握的舆论工具发泄私愤，或作不公正的报道。
工作要认真负责，避免报道失实。如有失实，应主动承担责任，及时更正。

五、保持清正廉洁的作风
新闻工作者要坚持发扬清正廉洁的作风，自觉抵制拜金主义、享乐主义、个人主义思想的侵蚀，坚决反对“有偿新闻”等不正之风，树立行业新风。
新闻工作者不得以任何名义索要、接受或借用采访报道对象的钱、物、有价证券、信用卡等；参加各种会议和活动不得索取和接受任何形式的礼金；不得在企事业单位兼职以获取报酬；不允许个人擅自组团进行采访报道活动；不得利用职务之便谋取私利。
新闻报道和经营活动要严格分开。新闻单位不得用新闻形式做广告；不得向编采部门下达“创收”任务。记者编辑不得从事广告或其他经营活动。
坚持廉洁自律，提倡勤俭作风，记者不得向被采访地区或单位提出工作以外的个人生活方面的特殊要求。要自觉遵守财经纪律和财务制度，严禁讲排场、比阔气、挥霍公款。

六、发扬团结协作精神
团结协作，形成合力，是社会主义新闻工作的一大优势。新闻界同行之间应建立平等、团结、友爱、互助的关系。提倡互相学习，互相支持，开展正当的业务竞争。
尊重同行和其他作者的著作权，反对抄袭、剽窃他人的劳动成果。
在同国外新闻界交往中，要维护祖国的尊严，维护中国新闻工作者的尊严。

1. Every member shall maintain good quality of workmanship and high standard of conduct.

2. No member shall do anything that will bring discredit on himself/herself, his/her union, his/her newspaper or other news media or his/her profession.

3. Every member shall defend the principles of freedom in the honest collection and dissemination of news and the right of fair comment and criticism.

4. Every member shall realise his/her personal responsibility for everything he/she prepares for his/her newspaper or other news media.

5. Every member shall report and interpret the news with scrupulous honesty.

6. Every member shall use only honest methods to obtain news, pictures and documents.

7. No member shall accept any form of bribe whether for publication or suppression nor permit personal interest to influence his/her sense of justice.

8. Every member shall respect all necessary confidence regarding sources of information and private documents.

9. Every member shall keep in mind the dangers in the laws of libel, contempt of court and copyright.

10. Every member shall observe at all times the fraternity of their profession and shall never take unfair advantage of a fellow member.

Whereas the Malaysian Press reiterates its belief in the principles of Rukunegara and the national aspirations contained therein;

1. It acknowledges its role in contributing to the process of nation-building.
2. It recognises its duty to contribute fully to the promotion of racial harmony and national unity.
3. It recognises communism, racialism and religious extremism as grave threats to national well-being and security.
4. It believes in a liberal, tolerant, democratic society and in the traditional role of a free and responsible Press serving the people by faithfully reporting facts without fear or favour.
5. It believes that a credible press is an asset to the nation.
6. It believes in upholding standards of social morality.
7. It believes that there must be no restrictions on the entry of Malaysians into the profession.
8. It believes that the Press has a duty to contribute to the formation of public policy.

Whereas the Malaysian Press does hereby adhere to the following Canons of Journalism:

1. The primary responsibility of the Malaysian journalist is to report facts accurately and faithfully and to respect the right of the public to the truth.

2. In pursuant of this duty he shall uphold the fundamental freedom in the honest collection of news and the right to fair comment and criticism.

3. He shall use only proper methods to obtain news, photographs/films and documents.

4. It shall be his duty to rectify and publish information found to be incorrect.

5. He shall respect the confidentiality of the source of information.

6. He shall uphold standards of morality in the performance of his duties and shall avoid plagiarism, calumny or slander, libel, sedition, unfounded accusations or acceptance of bribe in any form.

7. He shall avoid publication of news or reports, communal or extremist in nature, or contrary to the moral value of multiracial Malaysia.

8. It shall be incumbent upon him to understand public and national policies pertaining to the profession.

1. Promote and maintain freedom of expression and news reporting.

2. Provide only accurate news information and arrange to correct those found to be inaccurate.

3. Be polite and honest in discharging function, especially in obtaining documents, photographs and other informative materials useful for news reports.

4. Respect the confidentiality of news sources.

5. Perform duties for the greatest benefit of the public and restrain from seeking self-gain and from being an instrument of any group of people.

6. Refrain from any act that may be damaging to the profession’s integrity and image.

(Adopted by The Alliance of Independent Journalists [Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI] in Jakarta, on July 12th, 1998).

1. A journalist respects the right of society to obtain correct information.

2. A journalist always defends the principles of free and balanced coverage, criticism and comments.

3. A journalist gives a voice to groups who do not have the strength or opportunity to voice their aspirations.

4. A journalist only reports those facts and opinions that have a clear source.

5. A journalist does not hide important information that must be known to society.

6. A journalist obtains news, photographs and documents in an ethical manner.

7. A journalist respects the right for a source to give background information, off the record and to set embargoes.

8. A journalist immediately corrects any news he/she knows to be inaccurate.

9. A journalist maintains the secrecy of the source of confidential information, the identity of victims of sexual abuse and of underage criminal offenders.

10. A journalist avoids hatred, prejudice, derogatory attitudes and discrimination in the areas of: ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, political views, physical disabilities/ illness, mental disabilities/ illness or other matters of social background.

11. A journalist respects the privacy of the individual, except when this would be detrimental to society.

12. A journalist does not present news that graphically portrays indecency, cruelty, physical or sexual violence.

13. A journalist does not use his/her position or the information he/she possesses to pursue personal gain.

14. A journalist is forbidden to receive bribes. NB: Bribery is all forms of presents and gifts, such as money, goods and/or other facilities, which could influence journalists in their jobs.

15. A journalist is not permitted to plagiarise.

16. A journalist avoids slandering and damaging reputations.

17. A journalist avoids intervention from other parties, which seek to obstruct the application of the above principles.

18. Cases related to the Code of Ethics will be handled by the Council for the Code of Ethics.

(Adopted by the, Nihon Shinbun Kyokai, the association of newspaper publishers, in 1946 and revised in 1955).

The role to be played by newspapers in rebuilding Japan as a democratic and peace-loving nation is decidedly of great importance. In order to realize this mission in the fastest and most effective manner possible, it is necessary for every newspaper in the nation to adhere to a high ethical standard, elevate the prestige of its profession, and carry out its functions to the fullest.

Aware of the significance of their mission, democratic Japanese daily newspapers, large and small, have met in the most cordial spirit, organized the Nihon Shinbun Kyokai, formulated as its moral charter the Canon of Journalism and have pledged to endeavor with the utmost sincerity to realize these principles.

The Canon of Journalism, which stresses the spirit of freedom, responsibility, fairness and decency, constitutes a standard which should govern not only news and editorial writers but to an equal extent all persons connected with newspaper work.

I. Freedom of the Press

The press should enjoy complete freedom in reporting news and in making editorial comments, unless such activities interfere with public interests or are explicitly forbidden by law, including the freedom to comment on the wisdom of any restrictive statute. The right of the press should be defended as a vital right of mankind.

II. Sphere of News Reporting and Editorial Writing

The freedom of news reporting and editorial writing should be subject to the following voluntary restraints:

1. The fundamental rule of news reporting is to convey facts accurately and faithfully.

2. In reporting news, the personal opinion of the reporter should never be inserted.

3. In treating news, one should always remember and strictly guard against the possibility of such news being utilized for propaganda purposes.

4. Criticism of individuals should be limited to that which could be said directly to the individual involved.

5. Partisanship in editorial comments, which knowingly departs from the truth, undermines the true spirit of journalism.

III. The Principle of Editorial Comment

An editorial comment should be a bold expression of the writer’s belief and conviction and not a flattering speech. Furthermore, in writing an editorial comment, the writer should maintain the public spirit of being a speaker for those who otherwise have no means of voicing their opinions. The role of a newspaper as a public organ should be upheld most strongly in this regard.

IV. Fairness

The honor of an individual should be respected and protected as are his other fundamental human rights. Those who are to be criticized should be given the opportunity to defend themselves. Mistakes, if made, should be retracted immediately upon receipt of information that the article in question is false and should be rectified.

V. Tolerance

A fundamental principle of democracy recognizes the freedom of individual assertions and counter-assertions, and should be reflected clearly in the editing of newspapers. The tolerance to allot just as much news space introducing and reporting the policies which a newspaper opposes as it would allot to others which it supports is a fundamental character of democratic newspapers.

VI. Guidance, Responsibility and Pride

The principal difference between newspapers and other commercial enterprises is that newspapers in their reportorial and editorial activities exercise great influence over the public. The public depends on newspapers as their chief source of information and consequently newspapers affect their judgment of public events and problems. From this distinction arises the public character of journalistic enterprises and the special social status of journalists. The journalists’ realization of their responsibility and pride in their work are fundamental in ensuring their special status. These two points must be observed by each individual journalist.

VII. Decency

A high sense of public decency is naturally required of newspapers because of their share of influence over public opinion. Such a standard of decency can be achieved by abiding with the above-mentioned principles. Newspapers and journalists, when they fail to observe these principles, will invite public condemnation and disapproval by other papers and journalists and in the end will be unable to operate or work. Therefore, all members of the Nihon Shinbun Kyokai should endeavor to cooperate and maintain a high ethical standard by promoting their moral unity, guaranteeing free access to news material and assisting each other in newspaper production.

Thus, the association of newspapers which strictly observes the Canon of Journalism shall be able to accelerate and ensure the democratization of Japan and simultaneously elevate Japanese newspapers to world standards.

Principles and Ethics

The fundamental objective of journalism is to serve the people with news, views, comments and information on matters of public interest in a fair, accurate unbiased, sober and decent manner. Towards this end, the Press is expected to conduct itself in keeping with certain norms of professionalism universally recognised.  The norms enunciated below and other specific guidelines appended thereafter when applied with due discernment and adaptation to the varying circumstance of each case, will help the journalist to self-regulate his or her conduct.

Accuracy & Fairness

1) The Press shall eschew publication of inaccurate, baseless, graceless, misleading or distorted material.  All sides of the core issue or subject should be reported.  Unjustified rumours and surmises should not be set forth as facts.

Pre-publication Verification

2) On receipt of a report or article of public interest and benefit containing imputations or comments against a citizen, the editor should check with due care and attention its factual accuracy apart from other authentic sources with the person or the organisation concerned to elicit his/her or its version comments or reaction and publish the same with due amendments in the report where necessary.  In the event of lack or absence of response, a footnote to that effect should bc appended to the report.

Caution against defamatory writings

3) Newspaper should not publish anything which is manifestly defamatory or libellous against any individual or organisation unless after due care and checking, they have sufficient reason to believe that it is true and its publication will be for public good.

4) Truth is no defence for publishing derogatory, scurrilous and defamatory material against a private citizen where no public interest is involved.

5) No personal remarks which may be considered or construed to be derogatory in nature against a dead person should be published except in rare cases of public interest, as the dead  person cannot possibly contradict or deny those remarks.

6) The Press shall not rely on objectionable pad behaviour of a citizen for basing the scathing comments with reference to fresh action of that person.  If public good requires such reference, the Press should make pre-publication inquiries from the authorities concerned about the follow up action, if any, in regard to those adverse action.

7) The Press has a duty, discretion and right to serve the public interest by drawing reader’s attention to citizens of doubtful antecedents and of questionable character but as responsible journalists  they should observe due restraint and caution in hazarding their own opinion or conclusion in branding these persons as ‘cheats’ or ‘killers’ etc. The cardinal principle being that the  guilt of a person should be established by proof of facts alleged and not by proof of the bad character of the accused.  In its zest to expose the Press should not exceed the limits of ethical caution and fair comments.

8) Where the impugned publications are manifestly injurious to the  reputation of the complainant, the onus shall be on the respondent to show that they were true or to establish that they constituted for comment made in good faith and for public good.

Parameters of the right of the Press to comment on the acts and conduct of public officials

9) So far as the government local authority and other organs/ institutions exercising governmental power are concerned, they cannot maintain a suit for damages for acts and conduct relevant to the discharge of their official duties unless the official establishes that the publication was made with reckless disregard for truth.  However judiciary, which is protected by the power to punish for contempt of court and the parliament and Legislatures, protected as their privileges are by Articles 105 and 194 respectively, of the Constitution of India represent exception to this rule.

10) Publication of news or comments/ information on public officials conducting investigations should not have a tendency to help the commission of offences or to impede the prevention or detection of offences or prosecution of the guilty.  The investigating agency is also under a corresponding obligation not to leak out or disclose such information or indulge in disinformation.

11) The Official Secrets Act 1923 or any similar enactment or provision having the force of law equally bind the press or media though there is no law empowering the state or its officials to prohibit, or to impose a prior restraint upon the press/media.

12) Cartoons and caricatures in depicting good humour are to be placed in a special category of news that enjoy more liberal attitude.

Right to Privacy

13 ) The Press shall not intrude upon or invade the privacy of an individual unless outweighed by genuine overriding public interest, not being a prurient or morbid curiosity.  So, however, that once a matter becomes a matter of public record, the right to privacy no longer subsists and it becomes a legitimate subject for comment by Press and media among others.

Explanation: Things concerning a person’s home, family, religion, health, sexuality, personal life and private affairs are covered by the concept of PRIVACY excepting where any of these impinges upon the public or public interest.

14) Caution against identification: While reporting crime involving rape, abduction or kidnap of women/ females or sexual assault on children, or raising doubts and questions touching the chastity, personal character and privacy of women, the names, photographs of the victims or other particulars leading to their identity shall not be published.

15) Minor children and infants who are the offspring of sexual abuse or ‘forcible marriage’ or illicit sexual union shall not be identified or photographed.

Recording interviews and phone conversation

16) The Press shall not tape-record anyone’s conversation without that person’s knowledge or consent except where the recording is necessary to protect the journalist in a legal action, or for other compelling good reason.

17) The press shall, prior to publication, delete offensive epithets used by an interviewer in conversation with the Press person.

18) Intrusion through photography into moments of personal grief shall be avoided.  However, photographs of victims of accidents or natural calamity may be in larger public interest.

Conjecture, comment and fact

19) Newspapers should not pass on or elevate conjecture, speculation or comment as a statement of fact.  All these categories should be distinctly stated.

Newspapers to eschew suggestive guilt

20) Newspapers should eschew suggestive guilt by association.  They should not name or identify the family or relatives or associates of a person convicted or accused of a crime, when they are totally innocent and a reference to them is not relevant to the matter reported.

21) It is contrary to the norms of journalism for a paper to identify itself with and project the case of any one party in the case of any controversy/ dispute.

Corrections

22) When any factual error or mistake is detected or confirmed, the newspaper should publish the correction promptly with due prominence and with apology or expression of regrets in a case of serious lapse.

Right of Reply

23) The newspaper should promptly and with due prominence publish either in full or with due editing, free of cost, at the instance of the person affected or feeling aggrieved or concerned by the impugned publication, a contradiction/ reply/ clarification or rejoinder sent to the editor in the form of a letter or note. If the editor doubts the truth or factual accuracy of the contradiction/ reply/ clarification or rejoinder, he shall be at liberty to add separately at the end a brief editorial comment doubting its veracity, but only when this doubt is reasonably founded on unimpeachable documentary or other evidential material in his/her possession.  This is a concession which has to be availed of sparingly with due discretion and caution in appropriate cases.

24) However, where the reply/ contradiction or rejoinder is being published in compliance with the discretion of the Press Council, it is permissible to append a brief editorial note to that effect.

25) Right of rejoinder cannot be claimed through the medium of Press Conference, as publication of a news of a conference is within the discretionary powers of an editor.

26) Freedom of the Press involves the readers’ right to know all sides of an issue of public interest.  An editor therefore shall not refuse to publish the reply or rejoinder merely on the ground that in his opinion the story published in the newspaper was true.  That is an issue to be left to the judgement of the readers.  It also does not behove an editor to show contempt towards a reader.

Letters to editor

27)  An editor who decides to open his columns for letters on a controversial subject, is not obliged to publish all the letters received in regard to that subject.  He is entitled to select and publish only some of them either in entirety or the gist thereof. However in exercising this discretion he must make an honest endeavour to ensure that what is published is not one-sided but represents a fair balance between the views for and against with respect to the principal issue in controversy.

28) In the event of rejoinder upon rejoinder being sent by two parties on a controversial. subject, the editor has the discretion to decide at which stage to close the continuing column.

Obscenity end vulgarity to be eschewed:

29) Newspapers/ journalists shall not publish anything which is obscene, vulgar or offensive to public good taste.

30) Newspapers shall not display advertisements which are vulgar or which, through depiction of a woman in nude or lewd posture, provoke lecherous attention of males as if she herself was a commercial commodity for sale.

31) Whether a picture is obscene or not, is to be judged in relation to three tests; namely

i) Is it vulgar and indecent?

ii) Is it a piece of mere pornography

iii) Is its publication meant merely to make money by titillating the sex feelings of adolescents and among whom it is intended to circulate? In other words, does it constitute an unwholesome exploitation for commercial gain.

Other relevant considerations are whether the picture is relevant to the subject matter of the magazine.  That is to say, whether its publication serves any preponderating social or public purpose in relation to art, painting, medicine research or reform of sex.

Violence not to be glorified

32) Newspapers/journalists shall avoid presenting acts of violence armed robberies and terrorise activities in a manner that glorifies the perpetrators’ acts, declarations or death, in the eye’s of the public.

Glorification/ encouragement of social evils to be eschewed

33) Newspapers shall not allow their columns to be misused for writings which have a tendency to encourage or glorify social evils like Sati Pratha or ostentatious celebrations.

Covering communal disputes/ clashes

34) News, views or comments relating to communal or religious disputes/clashes shall be published after proper verification of facts and presented with due caution and restraint in a manner which is conducive to the creation of an atmosphere congenial to communal harmony, amity and peace.  Sensational, provocative and alarming headlines are to be avoided.  Acts of’ communal violence or vandalism shall be reported in a manner as may not undermine the people’s confidence in the law and order machinery of the State.  Giving community-wise figures of the victims of communal riot, or writing about the incident in a style which is likely to inflame passions between the tension, or accentuate the strained relations between the communities/ religious groups concerned, or which has a potential to exacerbate the trouble, shall be avoided.

Headings not to be sensational/ provocative and must justify the matter printed under them

35) In general and particularly in the context of communal disputes or clashes;

a) provocative and sensational headlines are to be avoided;

b) Headings must reflect and justify the matter printed under them;

c) Headings containing allegations made in statements should either identify the source making it or at least carry quotation marks.

Caste, religion or community references

36) In general, the caste identification of a person or a particular class should be avoided, particularly when in the context it conveys a sense or attributes a conduct or practice derogatory to that caste.

37) Newspapers are advised against the use of word “Scheduled Caste” or “Harijan” which has been objected to by some persons.

38) An accused or a victim shall not be described by his caste or community when the same does not have anything to do with the offence or the crime and plays no part either in the identification of any accused or proceeding, if there be any.

39) Newspaper should not publish any fictional literature distorting and portraying the religious characters in an adverse light transgression of the norms of literary taste and offending the religious susceptibilities of large section of society who hold those characters in high esteem, invested with attributes of the virtuous and lofty.

40) Commercial exploitation of the name of prophets, seers or deities is repugnant to journalistic ethics and good taste.

Reporting on natural calamities

41) Facts and data relating to spread of epidemics or natural calamities shall be checked up thoroughly from authentic sources and then published with due restraint in a manner bereft of sensationalism, exaggeration, surmises, unverified facts.

Paramount national interest

42) Newspapers shall, as matter of self-regulation, exercise due restraint and caution in presenting any news, comment or information which is likely to jeopardise, endanger or harm the paramount interests of the State and society, or the rights of individuals with respect to which reasonable restrictions may be imposed by law on the right to freedom of speech and expression under clause (2) of Article 19 of the Constitution of India.

43)Publication of wrong  / incorrect map is a very serious offence, whatever the reason, as it adversely affects the territorial integrity of the country and warrants prompt and prominent retraction with regrets.

Newspapers may expose misuse of diplomatic immunity

44) The media shall make every possible effort to build bridges of co-operation, friendly relations and better understanding between India and foreign States.  At the same time, it is the duty of a newspaper to expose any misuse or undue advantage of the diplomatic immunities.

Investigative journalism, its norms and parameters

45) Investigative reporting has three basic elements.

a. It has to be the work of the reporter, not of others he is reporting;

b. The subject should be of public importance for the reader to know;

c. An attempt is being made to hide the truth from the people.

(i) The first norm follows as a necessary corollary from (a) that the investigative reporter should, as a rule, base his story on facts investigated, detected and verified by himself – and not on hearsay or on derivative evidence collected by a third party, not checked up from direct, authentic sources by the reporter himself.

(ii) There being a conflict between the factors which require openness and those which necessitate secrecy, the investigative journalist should strike and maintain in his report a proper balance between openness on the one hand and secrecy on the other, placing the public good above everything.

(iii) The investigative journalist should resist the temptation of quickies or quick gains conjured up from half-baked, incomplete, doubtful facts, not fully checked up and verified from authentic sources by the reporter himself.

(iv) Imaginary facts, or ferreting out or conjecturing the non-existent should be scrupulously avoided.  Facts, facts and yet more facts are vital and they should be checked and cross-checked whenever possible until the moment the paper goes to press.

(v)  The newspaper must adopt strict standards of fairness and accuracy of facts.  Findings should be presented in an objective manner, without exaggerating or distorting, that would stand up in a court of law, if necessary.

(vi) The reporter must not approach the matter or the issue under investigation in a manner as though he were the prosecutor or counsel for the prosecution.  The reporter’s approach should be fair, accurate and balanced.  All facts properly checked up, both for and against the core issues should be distinctly and separately stated, free from any one-sided inferences or unfair comments.  The tone and tenor of the report and its language should be sober, decent and dignified, and not needlessly offensive, barbed, derisive or castigatory, particularly while commenting on the version of the person whose alleged activity or misconduct is being investigated.  Nor should the investigative reporter conduct the proceedings and pronounce his verdict of guilt or innocence against the person whose alleged criminal acts and conduct were investigated, in a manner as if he were a court trying the accused.

(vii) In all proceedings including the investigation, presentation and publication of the report, the investigative journalist/ newspaper  should be guided by the paramount principle of criminal jurisprudence, that a person is innocent unless the offence alleged against him is proved beyond doubt by independent, reliable evidence.

(viii) The private life, even of a public figure, is his own.  Exposition or invasion of his personal privacy or private life is not permissible unless there is clear evidence that the wrong doings in question have a reasonable nexus with the misuse of his public Position or power and has an adverse impact on public interest.

(ix) Though the legal provisions of Criminal procedure do not in terms, apply to investigating proceedings by a journalist, the fundamental principles underlying them can be adopted as a guide on grounds of equity, ethics and good conscience.

Confidence to be respected

46) If information is received from a confidential source, the confidence should be respected.  The journalist cannot be compelled by the Press Council to disclose such source; but it shall not be regarded as a breach of journalistic ethics if the source is voluntarily disclosed in proceedings before the Council by the journalist who considers it necessary to repel effectively a charge against him/ her. This rule requiring a newspaper not to publish matters disclosed to it in confidence, is not applicable where:

(a) consent of the source is subsequently obtained; or

(b) the editor clarified by way of an appropriate foot-note that since the publication of certain matters were in the public interest, the information in question was being published although it had been made “off the record”.

Caution in criticising  judicial acts

47) Excepting where the court sits ‘in-camera’ or directs otherwise, it is open to a newspaper to report pending judicial proceedings, in a fair, accurate and reasonable manner. But it shall not publish anything:

- which, in its direct and immediate effect, creates a substantial risk of obstructing, impeding or prejudicing seriously the due administration of justice; or

- is in the nature of a running commentary or debate or records the paper’s own findings, conjectures, reflection or comments on issues sub judice and which may amount to arrogation to the newspaper the functions of the court; or

- regarding the personal character of the accused standing trial on a charge of committing a crime.

Newspaper shall not as a matter of caution, publish or comment on evidence collected as a result of investigative journalism, when, after the accused is arrested and charged, the court becomes seized of the case : Nor should they reveal, comment upon or evaluate a confession allegedly made by the accused.

48) While newspapers may, in the public interest, make reasonable criticism of a judicial act or the judgement of a court for public good; they shall not cast scurrilous aspersions on, or impute improper motives or personal bias to the judge. Nor shall they scandalise the court or the judiciary as a whole or make personal allegations of lack of ability or integrity against a judge.

49) Newspaper shall as a matter of caution avoid unfair and un-warranted criticism which, by innuendo, attributes to judge extraneous consideration for performing an act in due course of his/her judicial functions, even if such criticism does not strictly amount to criminal Contempt of Court.

Newspapers to avoid crass commercialism

50) While newspapers are entitled to ensure, improve or strengthen their financial viability by all legitimate means, the Press shall not engage in crass commercialism or unseemly cut-throat commercial competition with their rivals in a manner repugnant to high professional standards and good taste.

51) Predatory price wars/ trade competition among newspapers, laced with tones disparaging the products of each other initiated and carried on in print assume the colour of unfair trade, repugnant to journalistic ethics.  The question as to when it assumes such an unethical character is one of the fact depending on the circumstances of each case.

Plagiarism

52) Using or passing off the writings or ideas of another as one’s own, without crediting the source, is an offence against the ethics of journalism.

Unauthorised lifting of news

53) The practice of lifting news from other newspapers and publishing them subsequently as their own, ill-comports with the high standards of journalism. To remove its unethicality, the ‘lifting’ newspaper must duly acknowledge the source of the report.  The position of features articles is different from ‘news’ : Feature articles shall not be lifted without permission / proper acknowledgement.

54) The press shall not reproduce in any form offending portions or excerpts from a proscribed book.

Non-return of unsolicited material

55) A paper is not bound to return unsolicited material sent for consideration of publication. However when the same is accompanied by stamped envelope the paper should make all efforts to return it.

Advertisements

56) Commercial advertisements are information as much as social, economic or political information. What is more, advertisements shape attitude and ways of life at least as much as other kinds of information and comment.  Journalistic propriety demands that advertisements must be clearly distinguishable from editorial matters carried in the newspaper.

57) Newspaper shall not publish anything which has a tendency to malign wholesale or hurt the religious sentiments of any community or section of society.

58) Advertisements which offend the provisions of the Drugs and Magical Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954 should be rejected.

59) Newspapers should not publish an advertisement containing, anything which is unlawful or illegal, or is contrary to good taste or to journalistic ethics or proprieties.

60) Newspapers while publishing advertisements, shall specify the amount received by them.  The rationale behind this is that advertisements should be charged at rates usually chargeable by a newspaper since payment of more than the normal rates would amount to a subsidy to the paper.

61) Publication of dummy advertisements that have neither been paid for nor authorised by the advertisers, constitute breach of journalistic ethics.

62) Deliberate failure to publish an advertisement in all the copies of a newspaper offends against the standards of journalistic ethics and constitutes gross professional misconduct.

63) There should be no lack of vigilance or a communication gap between the advertisement department and the editorial department of a newspaper in the matter of considering the propriety or otherwise of an advertisement received for publication.

64) The editors should insist on their right to have the final say in the acceptance or rejection of advertisements, specially those which border on or cross the line between “decency and obscenity”.

65) An editor shall be responsible for all matters, including advertisements published in the newspaper. If responsibility is disclaimed, this shall be explicitly stated beforehand.

formulated by the Philippine Press Institute and National Press Club

1. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts or to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognise the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.
2. I shall not violate confidential information or material given me in the exercise of my calling.
3. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.
4. I shall refrain from writing reports which will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interest justifies it. At the same time, I shall fight vigorously for public access to information.
5. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties; nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature which may cast doubt on my professional integrity.
6. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.
7. I shall not in any manner ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.
8. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.
9. I shall not take unfair advantage of fellow journalists.
10. I shall accept only such tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my profession, invoking the ‘conscience clause’ when duties imposed on me conflict with the voice of my conscience.
11. I shall comport myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watch word.