01. PREAMBLE
This code of practice which is binding on all
Press institutions and journalists, aims to ensure that the print medium in Sri
Lanka is free and responsible and sensitive to the needs and expectations of
its readers, while maintaining the highest standards of journalism.
Those
standards require newspapers to strive for accuracy and professional integrity,
and to uphold the best traditions of investigative journalism in the public
interest, unfettered by distorting commercialism or by improper pressure or by
narrow self-interest which conspires against press freedom. Newspapers and
journalists, while free to hold and express their own strong opinions, should
give due consideration to the views of others and endeavour to reflect social
responsibility.
This code both protects the rights of the individual
should be honoured not only to the letter but in the spirit –neither
interpreted so narrowly as to
compromise
its commitment to respect the rights of the individual nor so broadly as to
prevent publication in the public interest.
Editors
should co-operate swiftly with the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka
(PCCSL) in the resolution of complaints. Any publication judged to have
breached the Code must print the adjudication in full and with due prominence,
including a headline reference to the PCCSL.
02.
ACCURATE REPORTING
2.1:
The media must take all reasonable care to report news and pictures accurately
and without distortion.
2.2: Every reasonable attempt should be made
by editors and individual journalists to verify the accuracy of reports prior
to publication. Where such verification is not practicable, that fact shall be
stated in the report.
2.3:
Editors and their staff, including external contributors, shall not publish
material in such a way as to endorse any matter which they know or have reason
to believe to be false or inaccurate.
2.4:
Publications are encouraged to engage in investigative journalism in the public
interest.
03.
CORRECTIONS and APOLOGIES
3.1:
Where it is recognized by the editor that a report was incorrect in a material
respect, it should be corrected promptly and with due prominence and with an
apology where appropriate, except where the correction or apology is against
the wishes of the aggrieved party.
04.
OPPORTUNITY TO REPLY
4.1: A
fair and reasonable opportunity to reply should be given to individuals or organizations
in respect of factually incorrect statements endangering their reputation,
dignity, honour, feelings,
privacy and office.
The reply should be confined to longer than necessary to correct the alleged
inaccuracy.
4.2: Newspapers
or journalists who respond to a complai regret the error, must then be prepared
to offer the aggrieved party a fresh opportunity to reply.
05.
CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES
5.1:
Every journalist has a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of
information, until that source authorizes otherwise.
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6.1:
In dealing with social issues of a particularly shocking or emotionally painful
nature –such as atrocity, violence, drug abuse, brutality, sadism, sexual
salacity and obscenity –the press should take special care to present facts,
opinions, photographs and graphics with due sensitivity and discretion, subject
to its duty to publish in the public interest.
6.2:
In reporting accounts of crime or criminal case, publications shall not, unless
it is both legally permitted and in the public interest –
i. Name
victims of sex crimes
ii. Knowingly
name any young person accused of a criminal offence who is below the age of 16
and who has no previous convictions
iii. Identify
without consent relatives of a person accused or convicted of a crime
6.3:
A journalist shall not knowingly or willfully promote communal or religious
discord or violence.
6.4:
i. The press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative ref sex or to any physical or
mental illness or disability.
ii.
It must avoid publishing details rientation,of physicalperson’s race or mental
illness or disability unless these are directly relevant to the story
6.5:
i. Even where the law does not prohibit it, journalists must not use for their
own profit financial information they receive in advance of its general
publication, nor should they pass such information for the profit of others.
ii.
They must not write about shares or securities in whose performance they know
that they or their close families have a significant financial interest,
without disclosing the interest to the publisher, editor or financial editor.
6.6:
When reporting suicide, care should be taken not to give excessive detail of
the method used.
07.
PRIVACY
7.1: The press shall exercise particular care
to respect the private and family lives of individuals, their home, health and
correspondence. Intrusions on this right to privacy without consent could be
justified only by some over-riding public interest.
7.2:
The use of long-lens or other cameras to photograph people without consent on
private or public property where there is a reasonable expectation or privacy
is unacceptable, unless in the public interest.
7.3:
Particular care should be taken to ensure that in cases involving grief or
shock, inquiries and approaches are handled with sensitivity and discretion.
7.4:
Young people should be free to complete their school years without unnecessary
intrusion.
Publication
of material concerning a child’s private some exceptional public interest other
than the fame, notoriety or position of his or her family or
guardian.
7.5:
The restrictions on intruding into privacy are particularly relevant to
inquiries about individuals in hospitals or similar institutions, unless it
serves the public interest.
08.
HARASSMENT and SUBTERFUGE
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8.1:
Journalists, including photo-journalists, must not seek to obtain information
or pictures through intimidation or harassment or by misrepresentation or
subterfuge. The use of long-lens cameras or listening devices must also not be
used unless this can be justified in the public interest and the material could
not have been obtained by other means.
09.
DIGNITY
9.1:
Every journalist shall maintain the dignity of his or her profession.
INTERPRETATION
‘Public
means;Interest’
1: i. Protecting democracy, good governance, freedom of
expression and the fundamental rights of the people and of keeping them
informed about events that would have a direct or indirect bearing on them, and
that of their elected government, and detecting or exposing crime, corruption,
maladministration or a serious misdemeanor;
ii. Protecting
public health and security and social, cultural and educational standards;
iii. Protecting
the public from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or
organisation.
2: In
any case where the public interest is involved, the Press Complaints Commission
will be entitled to require a full explanation by the Editor and/or journalist
demonstrating how the public interest was served.
ONLINE
PUBLICATIONS
The
provisions of this Code will also apply to the Online publications of the print
media.
REVIEW
The
Editor's Guild of Sri Lanka shall review the provisions of this Code from time
to time, in consultation with a Code Committee comprising of members, and
non-members appointed by The Guild.
The
Code is supported by the following organizations:
·
The Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka
·
Free Media Movement
·
Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association
·
Sri Lanka Press Institute
·
Sri Lanka College of Journalism
·
Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance
·
Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum
·
Federation of Media Employees Trade Union
·
South Asian Free Media Association
(SAFMA) –Sri Lanka Chapter
END/PCCSL
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