Code of Ethics

Newsman.pk Managing Editors
Code of Ethics
Revised and Adopted 2021

These principles are a model against which news and editorial staff members can measure their performance. They have been formulated in the belief that newspapers/newsperson and the people who produce them should adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.

The public’s right to know about matters of importance is paramount. The newspaper has a special responsibility as a surrogate of its readers to be a vigilant watchdog of their legitimate public interests.

No statement of principles can prescribe decisions governing every situation. Common sense and good judgment are required in applying ethical principles to newspaper realities. As new technologies evolve, these principles can help guide editors to ensure the credibility of the news and information they provide. Individual newspapers are encouraged to augment these media guidelines more specifically to their own situations.

RESPONSIBILITY

A good newspaper/media is fair, accurate, honest, responsible, independent and decent.
Truth is its guiding principle.

It avoids practices that would conflict with the ability to report and present news in a fair, accurate and unbiased manner.

The newspaper/news media should serve as a constructive critic of all segments of society. It should reasonably reflect, in staffing and coverage, its diverse constituencies. It should vigorously expose wrongdoing, duplicity or misuse of power, public or private. Editorially, it should advocate needed reform and innovation in the public interest. News sources should be disclosed unless there is a clear reason not to do so. When it is necessary to protect the confidentiality of a source, the reason should be explained.

The newspaper/news media should uphold the right of free speech and freedom of the press and should respect the individual’s right to privacy. The newspaper should fight vigorously for public access to news of government through open meetings and records.

ACCURACY

The newspaper/news media should guard against inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortion through emphasis, omission or technological manipulation.

It should acknowledge substantive errors and correct them promptly and prominently.

INTEGRITY

The newspaper/news media should strive for impartial treatment of issues and dispassionate handling of controversial subjects. It should provide a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism, especially when such comment is opposed to its editorial positions. Editorials and expressions of personal opinion by reporters and editors should be clearly labelled. Advertising should be differentiated from the news.

The newspaper/news media should report the news laws without regard for its own interests, mindful of the need to disclose potential conflicts. It should not give favoured news treatment to advertisers or special-interest groups.

It should report matters regarding itself or its personnel with the same vigour and candour as it would other institutions or individuals. Concern for the community, business or personal interests should not cause the newspaper to distort or misrepresent the facts.

The newspaper/media should deal honestly with readers and newsmakers. It should keep its promises.

The newspaper/news media should not plagiarize words or images.

INDEPENDENCE

The newspaper/news media and its staff should be free of obligations to news sources and newsmakers. Even the appearance of obligation or conflict of interest should be avoided.

Newspapers/news media should accept nothing of value from news sources or others outside the profession. Gifts and free or reduced-rate travel, entertainment, products and lodging should not be accepted. Expenses in connection with news reporting should be paid by the newspaper. Special favours and special treatment for members of the press should be avoided.

Journalists are encouraged to be involved in their communities, to the extent that such activities do not create conflicts of interest. Involvement in politics, demonstrations and social causes that would cause a conflict of interest, or the appearance of such conflict, should be avoided.

Work by staff members for the people or institutions they cover also should be avoided.

Financial investments by staff members or other outside business interests that could create the impression of a conflict of interest should be avoided.

Stories should not be written or edited primarily for the purpose of winning awards and prizes. Self-serving journalism contests and awards that reflect unfavourably on the newspaper or the profession should be avoided.

Specific Code of Media Ethics for Newsman and its Staff in Pakistan

A journalist/media persons should keep these points in consideration while performing his duties with Newsman.

He/She;

1. Must maintain the highest professional and ethical standards and ensure that the information/editorial content being provided by him/her is fair, unbiased, and accurate.
2. Shall stay away from or avoid falsification by distortion, selection or misrepresentation.
3. Shall do his/her extreme efforts to correct inaccuracies.
4. Shall, at all times, guard the freedom of the press and other media in relation to the collection of information and the expression of comment and criticism.
5. Shall struggle to eliminate distortion and news suppression.
6. Shall not accept any personal favours, bribes or inducements or allow any other factor, such as advertising revenue for the Newsman Media Group, to influence the performance of his/her professional duties.
7. Shall not take personal advantage of information gained in the course of his/her professional duties.
8. Shall defend confidential sources of information which can be shared with the line manager and the Editor on duty.
9. Shall/can mention a person’s age, gender, ethnicity, caste, sect, colour, creed, illegitimacy, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation ONLY if this information is strictly relevant.

• Shall neither create nor process material that encourages discrimination, ridicule, prejudice or hatred on any of the above-mentioned accounts.

11. Shall acquire information, data, photographs, and illustrations only by straightforward means; the use of other means can be justified only for reasons of overriding public interest, and with the specific permission of the editor.
12. Shall not interfere into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless it is for reasons of overriding public interest, and then only with the specific permission of the Editor.
13. Shall not cross the limits of ethical caution and fair comment in his/her zeal to break a story.
14. Shall not glorify the perpetrators of any illegitimate acts of violence committed under any garb or cause, including honour and religion.
15. Shall take care while reporting on militants/insurgents/extremists of the need to balance public interest with the danger of ‘advertising’ extremist ideologies.
16. Shall not print or upload gory images of violence, mutilated bodies and victims of any tragedy unless this is inevitable and in the public interest.
17. Shall take the greatest care while reporting running stories involving sectarian clashes, communal disturbances, ethnic strife, hostage situations, etc, so as not to cause further deterioration of the situation, jeopardise lives or operations, or fan public discontent and anger.
18. Shall not disclose the full identity or photograph minor children and infants who are the result of sexual abuse, forced marriage or any sort of irresponsible partnering of their parents.
19. Shall not disclose the full identity or photograph rape victims or people living with HIV/AIDS without their permission. In the case of minors, particular care will be taken and permission will be sought from their parent/ guardian after discussing potential implications.
20. Shall not disclose the full identity of the accused in rape cases till the latter has been indicted by the court.
21. Shall not plagiarise, and must honour copyright when using textual, video or image material from external sources.
22. Shall not be responsible for gender discrimination, either in the dispensation of his/her professional duties or in his/her interaction with fellow journalists. Shall exhibit sensitivity to gender-role stereotyping by refraining from exploitation and by reflecting the intellectual and emotional equality of both genders whilst writing.
23. Shall abide by at all times the rules & guidelines on employees’ use of social media.
24. Shall not damage or break the rule of law, the supremacy of the Constitution, and democracy, and take care to abide by national and international laws and conventions while reporting/commenting on regional and international affairs.