THE PRESS:

ITS RESPONSIBILITIES and EXCESSES

A QUESTION OF ETHICS
Envelopmental Journalism Refers to a sum of money, usually placed in an envelope, given by some unscrupulous officials to some equally unscrupulous newspapermen Purpose: 1. To have a story with a slant in his favor, to be written and published. 2. To silence the reporter or keep him from writing about certain things that he knew.

Section 5 of the NPC-promulgated Code of Ethics for Filipino Journalists:

I. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly. II. I shall not violate confidential information or material given to me in the exercise of my calling.

III. 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. IV. 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, as provided for in the Constitution.

V. 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.

VI. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism. VII. 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. VIII. 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.

IX. I shall not take unfair advantage to a fellow journalist.

X. 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. XI. 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 watchword.

NEWSPAPER ETHICS
1. Obscenity is against the law. 2. Stick to objective and unbiased report.

3. Dont print pictures that will offend the ordinary reader's taste or sensibility.
4. Dont play around with your stories. 5. A person is always innocent until proven guilty by the court.

DETAILED CODE OS NEWSPAPER ETHICS ADOPTED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS I. RESPONSIBILITY The right of a newspaper to attract and hold readers is restricted by nothing but considerations of public welfare. II. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS To be regarded as vital right of mankind

III. INDEPENDENCE Freedom from all obligations except that of fidelity to the public interest is vital.

1. Promotion of any private interest contrary to the general welfare, for whatever reason, is not compatible with honest journalism. 2. Partisanship, in editorial comment, which knowingly departs from the truth, does violence to the best spirit of American Journalism; in the news columns it is subversive of a fundamental principle of the profession. IV. SINCERITY, TRUTHFULNESS, ACCURACY Good faith with the reader is the foundation of all journalism worthy of its name. 1. By every consideration of good faith in newspaper is constrained to be truthful. 2. Headlines should be fully warranted by the contents of the articles which they surmount.

V. IMPARTIALITY Sound practice makes clear distinction between news reports and expressions of opinions. VI. FAIR PLAY A newspaper should not publish unofficial charges affecting reputation or moral character without opportunity given to the accused to be heard. 1. a newspaper should not invade private rights or feelings without sure warrant of public right as distinguished from public curiosity. 2. it is the privilege, as it is the duty, of a newspaper to make prompt and complete correction of its own serious mistakes of fact or opinion, whatever their origin.

VII. DECENCY A newspaper cannot escape conviction of insincerity if while professing high moral purpose, it supplies incentives to base conduct, such as are to be found in details of crime and vice, publication of which is not demonstrably for the general good. A GOOD NEWSPAPER prints important news and provides the information, comment, and guidance most useful to its readers. Reports fully and explains the local, national, and international events which are of major significance in its own community.

 by reflecting the total image of its community in its news coverage and by providing wise counsel in its editorials, a good newspaper becomes a public conscience. to implement these principles of good editing requires a skilled staff, an attractive format, adequate space for news and comment, and a sound business foundation. the staff must possess the professional pride and competence necessary to breathe life and meaning into the daily record of history. news and comment of most immediate interest and importance to the local community shall have priority for the available space, which will depend on the size and resource of the newspaper. to assure a financially strong and independent publication and one that is competitive with other media, a good newspaper must maintain effective circulation, advertising, and promotion departments.

INTEGRITY

The newspaper shall: Maintain vigorous standards of honesty, and fair play in the selection and editing of its content as well as in all relations with news sources and the public. Deal passionately with controversial subjects and treated disputed issues with impartiality. Practice humility and tolerance in the face of honest conflicting pinions or disagreement. Provide a forum for the exchange of pertinent comment and criticism, especially if it is in conflict with the newspapers editorial point of view. Label its own editorial views or expressions of opinions.

ACCURACY
Exert maximum effort to print truth in all news situations. Strive for completeness and objectivity. Guard against carelessness, bias, or distortion by either emphasis or omission.

Correct promptly errors of fact for which the newspaper is responsible.

RESPONSIBILITY
The newspaper shall: use mature and impartial judgment in the public interest at all times. Select, edit, and display news on the basis of its significance and its genuine usefulness to the public. Edit news affecting public morals with candor and good taste and avoid an imbalance of sensational, preponderantly negative, or merely trivial news. Accent when possible a reasonable amount of news which illustrates the values of compassion, self-sacrifice, heroism, good citizenship, and patriotism. Clearly define news, and tell the reader when competent sources cannot be identified.

 Respect rights of privacy. Instruct its staff members to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum. LEADERSHIP The newspaper shall: Act with courage in serving the public. Stimulate and vigorously support public officials, private groups, and individuals in crusades and campaigns to increase the good works and eliminate the bad in the community. Help to protect all rights and privileges guaranteed by law. Serve as constructive critic of government at all levels, provide leadership for necessary reforms or innovations, and expose any misfeasance in office or any misuse of power.

 Oppose demagogues and other selfish and unwholesome interests regardless of their size or influence. RADIO and TELEVISION GUIDELINES The KAPISANAN ng mga BRODKASTERS sa PILIPINAS has issued the following guidelines for its members. On the presentation of news Good taste should always prevail in handling and selection of news. News should be broadcast in such a manner as to avoid the creation of public or unnecessary alarm. Voice and film clips of persons involved in news shall be properly identified. News analyses, commentaries, and editorials shall be clearly identified as such and clearly distinguished from

straight news content. Advertising in news programs shall be placed and presented so that such advertising is clearly distinguished from the news content. On public affairs and commentaries Public affairs programs shall present public issues free from personal bias, prejudice and inaccurate and misleading information. A station shall not allow its airtime and facilities to be used to malign or unfairly attack other persons or groups on issues which have no bearing on the public welfare. Programs and commentaries which deal with controversial issues involving public officials shall treat such officials fairly. Name-calling and personal insults shall not be allowed.

On obscenity and sex The use words, action, or similar manifestations which are obscene, blasphemous, profane, or vulgar shall not be allowed. The use of objectionable words and phrases or words which have acquired undesirable or offensive implications shall not be allowed. Sex and all matters related to it must be treated with the greatest care and utmost good taste and within the content of an objective presentation. Pre-marital or extra-marital sex must never be condoned or justified. Explicit sexual acts or sex perversion of any kind must never be presented.

On crime and violence Crime must always be condemned. The techniques used or details of a crime or violence must not be presented in such a way that they become instructional or will invite imitation. The diminution of respect for the law shall not be allowed. Any speech or action likely to incite any person to violence or anti-social behavior is unacceptable.

THE END!
Prepared by: Jane Michelle D. Balmes