Codes of conduct aren't legally binding (though they can be referred to in a court of law, if the subject is whether or not the journalism was responsible) but it is the general rule that if you break that codes governing a certain body that you belong to, then you can lose your job.
The main codes of conduct are:
- the NUJ's - determined by journalists
- the PCC (Press Complaints Commission) code of practice - very strict, can be sacked with compensation if a internal investigation rules against whoever violates the code
- BBC Producer Guidelines
- the OFCOM Broadcasting code - for commercial television, contains information about the watershed etc
NUJ
- A journalist has a duty to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards. - Obey the code
- A journalist shall at all times defend the principle of the freedom of the Press and other media in relation to the collection of information and the expression of comment and criticism. He/she shall strive to eliminate distortion, news suppression and censorship. Eliminate distortion
- A journalist shall strive to ensure that the information he/she disseminates is fair and accurate, avoid the expression of comment and conjecture as established fact and falsification by distortion, selection or misrepresentation. Fair, accurate, no comment as fact
- A journalist shall rectify promptly any harmful inaccuracies, ensure that correction and apologies receive due prominence and afford the right of reply to persons criticised when the issue is of sufficient importance. Rectify harmful inaccuracies
- A journalist shall obtain information, photographs and illustrations only by straightforward means. The use of other means can be justified only by over-riding considerations of the public interest. The journalist is entitled to exercise a personal conscientious objection to the use of such means. Obtain photographs only by straightforward means unless absolutely necessary
- Subject to the justification by over-riding considerations of the public interest, a journalist shall do nothing which entails intrusion into private grief and distress. Don't intrude into death - private
- A journalist shall protect confidential sources of information. Protect your sources
- A journalist shall not accept bribes nor shall he/she allow other inducements to influence the performance of his/her professional duties. No bribes
- A journalist shall not lend himself/herself to the distortion or suppression of the truth because of advertising or other considerations. No lying for advertisements
- A journalist shall only mention a person's age, race, colour, creed, illegitimacy, marital status (or lack of it), gender or sexual orientation if this information is strictly relevant. A journalist shall neither originate nor process material which encourages discrimination, ridicule, prejudice or hatred on any of the above-mentioned grounds. No gratuitous mention of a person's race/gender/creed
- A journalist shall not interview or photograph children in connection with stories concerning their welfare without the permission of a parent or other adult responsible for their welfare. Don't interview children
- No journalist shall knowingly cause or allow the publication or broadcast of a photograph that has been manipulated unless that photograph is clearly labelled as such. Manipulation does not include normal dodging, burning, colour balancing, spotting, contrast adjustment, cropping and obvious masking for legal or safety reasons. Do not broadcast manipulated images
- A journalist shall not take private advantage of information gained in the course of his/her duties, before the information is public knowledge. Do not use information gleaned through investigation for unfair, personal gain
- A journalist shall not by way of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial produce or service save for the promotion of his/her own work or of the medium by which he/she is employed. No endorsement
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