j&e guidelines

1. N U J C O D E O F C O N D U C T
What are the journalistic and
ethical guidelines?

2. A journalist should:
 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.
This is important because freedom of speech is a basic
human right, so people should be able to express their own
views and opinions. As well as this, the public’s opinions
should be heard as it is unjust that only the journalist’s
views are being portrayed; therefore there should be an
equal balance in fairness and equality.

3.  2. Strives to ensure that information
disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and
fair.
The information being presented should be accurate
and true. If not, people will believe in something
false which could end up into something serious. It
is essential that the news has been properly
researched into, is honest and real as well as
accurate.

4.  3. Does her/his utmost to correct harmful
inaccuracies.
If the journalist does not correct the inaccurate
stories, the audience will still believe in it which can
be spread around very quickly. If the journalist tries
to correct this, it gives them a chance to show the
true story which can raise awareness in other
journalists to finally get the real story out.

5.  4. Differentiates between fact and opinion.
It is essential that a journalist can differentiate the
two. Respectfully, an opinion is a belief of their own,
where as a fact can be proven. If a journalist is
treating their opinions as a fact, it will be biased
and false which can raise issues in the public
audience.

6.  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.
Evidence is always needed to back up a news story.
However this evidence should be collected in an open
and honest way, not in a secretive and an intolerable
way. This might make the public feel vulnerable and
may as if their privacy have been violated.

7.  6. Does nothing to intrude into anybody’s
private life, grief or distress unless justified by
overriding consideration of the public interest.
Linking to the previous code, a journalist should
never just decide they want to invade somebody’s
personal life to help find evidence for their own
story. If they want evidence, it should be done in
a justified manner.

8.  7. Protects the identity of sources who supply
information in confidence and material gathered in
the course of her/his work.
Confidentiality is important in the news world as
the news world is very big. If other journalists find
out who or what the source is, that source will be
targeted by everybody wanting answers. A
journalist should keep this out of respect as well to
ensure their work is original and accurate.

9.  8. Resists threats or any other inducements to
influence, distort or suppress information and takes
no unfair personal advantage of information gained
in the course of her/his duties before the
information is public knowledge.
The knowledge the journalist has discovered should not
be used for their own personal needs. The information
they find should be given to the public as their
spokesperson. A journalist should not fall under pressure
or threats or any other influences to give out
information.

10.  9. 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.
The journalist’s work should not offend or discriminate
anybody. The world we live in should be free of
discrimination as it is, and if the media and news
journalists add to this, it just presents our world as
more prejudice and discriminate. Certain groups may
be offended so it is right to avoid this.

11.  10. 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.
Again, the journalist should not be using this as a form of
advertising themselves or things they work for in
addition to what they do. It should not be to advertise for
their own personal gains. This is important because then
it is irrelevant to the public and the public may feel as if
they are taking advantage of the job therefore should be
given to someone better.

12.  11. A journalist shall normally seek the consent of
an appropriate adult when interviewing or
photographing a child for a story about her/his
welfare.
It is essential that the child feels comfortable whilst being
interviewed, therefore an appropriate adult should be
present. This not only allows the child to be more
cooperative but makes them feel as if they can talk more
as they are comfortable, which also allows them to give
more accurate information, rather than feel as if they
are being put on the spot.

13.  12. Avoids plagiarism.
A journalist should avoid this at all costs. If they are
simply copying somebody else’s work and taking
credit for it shows that they are unreliable and
untrustworthy. This loses trust within the public as
well as goes against the job they have.