Ethical Journalism Network Building Trust In a New World Of Information Aidan White [email protected].

Ethical Journalism Network

Building Trust In aNew World Of Information

Aidan [email protected]

Who we are

A coalition of media professional groups from around the world

committed to building trust in media and promoting principles of ethical

journalism, good governance and self-regulation in the digital age

www.ethicaljournalismnetwork.org

Human Beings are Ethical Animals

Society is based on respect for rights. These rights are agreed international standards.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Convention on Civil and Political Rights

• Regional Human Rights Instruments

Ethics and Journalism

Journalism’s conventions and standards are set out in codes. There are more than 400 codes agreed at national and global level. http://rjionline.org/AS-Codes-of-Ethics

Ethical Journalism is not Free Expression

• Journalism is not free speech, it is constrained expression.• It works in a framework of

values. • It has purpose. • It is a public good.

Values That Constrain

Ethics: truth, independence, impartiality, humanity and accountability

Other Constraints:Internet, Changing Industry,Political and social challenges:Hate Speech and intolerance

Hate speech and the Rush to Publish

Islamophobia on the MarchA media image: wild-eyed men in the Muslim world raging over the infamous Innocence of Muslims Film in 2012. Did this reflect a widespread anger within the Islamic community worldwide? According to an EJN review it did not.

How do we find balance

between image andreality in the world ofopen information?

Between Racism and Satire?

When We are wrong - ApologiseThis was meant as a joke, but it was completely wrong….There should be perspective with satire, but the joke has to work.

The fallacy is a belief that racism is no longer generally accepted, and that it can be laughed safely. But laughing at racism, as it turns out now, is a thin line. That's not about free speech, but good taste...

De Morgen offers its apologies to anyone who feels offended. Sorry. We are in this case guilty of bad taste. We remain on the side of the multitudes fighting against all forms of racism.

Tell the Story in ContextTruth, Independence, Impartiality,

Avoid a Rush to Publish

Show Humanity

Be Transparent

Be Accountable

Audience and Media in Partnership

• Rethinking Acts of Journalism• Rebuild Ethical Base of Journalism• Industry Commitment to change• Good Governance, Self-regulation• Leadership from within journalism• Partnership with the audience

Principles of self-regulation

1. Internal – Company Level• Mission statement, Code of Conduct• Good governance and transparency• Respond to concerns and complaints

2. External – National Structures• Industry-wide system of self-regulation• Politically independent• Mix of professional and public representation

EJN at Work Pakistan: Ethical Audits and elections. Turkey: Business and politics as ThreatsEgypt: The Threat of Self CensorshipIndonesia: Model Press Councils for AsiaAfrica: Turning the Page of HateMyanmar: Building SolidarityEurope: Pluralism and Media Rights Studies: Does self-regulation work? Corruption on the Inside? Tools to combat hate.

Build Trust