BANGLADESH - 1993

INDONESIA Alliance of Independent Journalists, 1998

PAKISTAN General Assembly of the Committee of the Press, 1972

BANGLADESH

CODE OF CONDUCT

Adopted by Newspapers, News Agencies and Journalists of Bangladesh, 1993

1. It is the responsibility of a journalist to keep people informed of issues which influence them or attract them. News and commentaries have to be prepared and published showing full respect to the sensitivity and individual rights of the newspaper readers as well as the people.

2. Truth and accuracy in respect of information available shall be ensured.

3. Information received from reliable sources may be published in public interest induced by honest intention and if facts presented therein are considered trustworthy by logical consideration, then the journalist has to be absolved of any adverse consequence for publication of such news.

4. Reports based on rumours and not supported by facts shall be verified before publication and if these are considered not suitable for publication, one should refrain from publication of such news.

5. News items whose contents are dishonest and baseless or whose publication hinges on breach of trust shall not be published.

6. Newspapers and journalists have the right to express their views strongly on controversial issues but in doing so:
      
   a.All true events and views shall be expressed clearly.
   b.No event shall be distorted in order to influence the readers.
   c.No news shall be distorted or slanted dishonestly either in the main commentary or in the headline.
   d.Views on main news shall be presented clearly and honestly.
       

7. The editor has the right to publish any advertisement in newspapers signed by proper authorities, even if it is apparently against individual interest but not slanderous or against public interest. If protest is made with regard to such advertisement, the editor shall print and publish it without any cost.

8. Newspapers shall refrain from publishing any news which is contemptuous of or disrespectful to caste, creed, nationality and religion of any individual, community or the country.

9. If a newspaper published any news against the interest and good name of any individual, agency institution or group of people or any special category of people, then the newspaper or journalist concerned should provide opportunity to the aggrieved persons or institutions to publish their protest or answer quickly and correctly within a reasonable period of time.

10. If the published news is damaging or is improper, then it should immediately be withdrawn and corrigendurn or explanation (and in special cases apology) should be issued so that the impression (bad or erroneous) created by publication of such news is removed.

11. Sensational and pulpy news shall not be published to augment the circulation of a paper if such news is deemed vulgar, improper and against public interest.

12. Newspapers may adopt reasonable measures with a view to resisting crime and corruption even if they may not in some cases be deemed acceptable to someone.

13. The extent and durability of the influence of newspapers is greater than other media. For this reason a journalist writing for newspapers shall be particularly cautious about the credibility and veracity of sources and shall also preserve his source material in order to avoid risks.

14. It is the responsibility of the newspapers to publish the news of under-trial cases at all stages and to publish the final judgment of the Court in order to reveal the actual picture of issues relating to the case. But a journalist shall refrain from publishing such comment or opinion as is likely to influence an under-trial case until the final verdict is announced.

15. Rejoinder of the aggrieved party or parties directly involved with a news item published in a newspaper shall be quickly published in the same newspaper on such a page as would easily attract the attention of the readers; the editor, while editing the rejoinder, shall not change its basic character.

16. If an aggrieved party sends a rejoinder for the damage done to him by an editorial, it shall be the moral obligation of the editor to publish the corrigendurn in the same page and also express his/her regrets.

17. The publication of malicious news is far more immoral than that of wrong news without malicious intent.

18. It is the moral duty of an editor to accept full and sole responsibility for all publications in his/her newspaper.

19. A reporter while reporting on a case of financial or other irregularity shall, to the best of his ability, ascertain the facts in his news item and must collect sufficient material to justify the truth of the matter reported. He should adopt the necessary precautions while investigating the case.

20. A responsible publication which has not been contradicted may be the source of a news but it shall be a moral duty on the part of a journalist not to avoid responsibility regarding the news on the pretext that it has been reprinted.

21. It is the responsibility of a journalist to highlight any news which projects degeneration of moral values in our society but it is also the moral responsibility of a journalist to maintain extra precaution in publishing any news involving man-woman relationships or any report relating to women.

22. Respect for the law shall be highlighted.

23. All government employees and the people in general shall be made aware of the need to preserve national resources.

24. No programmes shall be shown containing scenes of torture to human beings or animals.

25. The programmes shall eulogise the role of the genuine freedom fighters during the wars of liberation.

26. All scenes of indecent kissing must be avoided while showing local and foreign films or programmes. No programmes of terrorism, violence or other contents contrary to Bangladeshi cultural values shall be put out.

27. In the case of advertisements, no commodity shall be undermined while promoting another. Commercials shall not contain any obscene words or scenes.

Source: Communication Ethics: A South Asian Perspective, Asian Media Information and Communication Centre, Singapore. 1997

INDONESIA

CODE OF ETHICS 

Alliance of Independent Journalists

Adopted in Jakarta, 12th July 1998

1. A journalist respects the right of society to obtain correct information

2. A journalist always defends the principles of free and balanced coverage reporting, critique and comments

3. A journalist gives a place to groups who do not have the strength or opportunity to voice their aspirations

4. A journalist only reports those facts and opinion that have a clear source

5. A journalist does not hide important information that must be known by society

6. A journalist obtain news, photographs and documents in an ethical manner

7. A journalist respects the right of a source to give background information, off the record and embargo

8. A journalist immediately corrects any news they know to be inaccurate

9. A journalist maintains the secrecy of the source of confidential information, identity of victims of sexual abuse and underage criminal offenders

10. A journalist avoids hatred, prejudice, derogatory attitudes and discrimination in the areas of: ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, political views, physical disabilities/illnesses, mental disabilities/illnesses or other matters of social background

11. A journalist respects the privacy of the individual, except where this is to the detriment of society

12. A journalist does not present news which graphically portrays indecency, cruelty, physical or sexual violence

13. A journalist does not use their position or the information they possess to pursue personal gain

14. A journalist is forbidden to receive bribes
    Notation: the bribery is all forms of presents and gifts, such as money, goods and/or other facilities which can directly or indirectly influence the journalists in the their jobs.

15. A journalist is not permitted to plagiarize

16. A journalist avoids slander and slighting reputations

17. A journalist avoids intervention from other parties which seek to obstruct the application of the above principles

18. Cases related to the Code of Ethics will be handled by the Council for the Code of Ethics

PAKISTAN

CODE OF ETHICS OF THE PAKISTAN PRESS

Adopted by The General Assembly of the Committee of the Press, 1972

Conforming to the preamble in the United Nations International Code of Ethics wherein it is stated:

Freedom of information and of the Press is it fundamental human right and is the touchstone of all the freedoms consecrated in the Charter of the United Nations and proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and it is essential to the promotion and to the preservation of peace:

And believing that it is necessary to observe a voluntary Code of Conduct to ensure its functioning in freedom in the most beneficial manner to society this general meeting of the Press Consultative Committee, held at Karachi on March 17, 1972, decides to adopt the principles of the Codes as herein set forth.

1. The profession of journalism, which is a public institution should not be used as an instrument to serve anti-social ends, or interests which are not compatible with this profession, nor should it be used to the detriment of national and public interest.

2. The following are to be avoided in any form of publication, such as articles, news items, photographs and advertisements:

   1. Immorality or obscenity.

   2. Vulgar and derogatory expressions against individuals, institutions or groups.

   3. Libelous or false allegations against individuals, institutions, groups or newspapers or publications.

   4. Religious sectarianism; arousing one sect against another.

   5. Glamorization of crime.

3. The right of the individual to protection of his reputation and integrity must be respected and exposure of and comment on the private lives of individuals must be avoided unless this is imperatively in the public interest.

4. Presentation of news items and comments on events should be fair and objective and there should be no willful departure from facts.

5. Headlines should not materially distort the contents of the news.

6. Off-the-record briefings should not be published.

7. The journalist should be entitled to protect his sources of information and respect confidence placed in him

8. Embargos on release dates of news, articles and pictures, should be rigorously observed.

9. All paid commercial announcements or advertisements should be published in such a way as to leave no doubt that they actually are paid commercial announcements or advertisements.

10. Justified corrections or denials sent as a result of any incorrect information published by newspapers, periodicals or news agencies should be published within the shortest possible period of time so as to effectively eliminate the impression created by the original publication which necessitated the issuance of a correction or denial.

11. The press shall not publish news or comment, photographs or advertisements which may undermine the security of the State or solidarity of the nation.

12. The press shall refrain from publishing anything likely to undermine the loyalty and allegiance of the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

13. The press shall not publish anything apt to create ill-will between different sections of the people, but it shall not be construed to preclude legitimate airing of grievances.

14. In reporting proceedings of the National and Provincial Assemblies, such portions of the proceedings as the Speaker may have ordered to be expunged from the records of the Assembly shall not be published and every effort shall be made to give the readers a fair report of what has been said by all sections of the House.

15. In dealing with any situation, the press shall restrict itself to factual reporting of events without in any way encouraging or providing any form of disturbance.

16. No newspaper shall accept in any form or shape any financial and pecuniary advantage or obligations from or on behalf of any foreign country or concern.

17. The personnel of the Press must never accept any form of bribe or permit personal interest to influence their sense of justice and impartiality.

Method of Implementation. The following arrangements for the implementation of the Press Code of Ethics should be adopted:

1. A press Court of Honor shall be set up by the Standing Committee of tile Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, comprising a retired High Court Judge as Chairman; and six members from among themselves; one of whom shall act as Secretary to the Court. Provided that half tile members would retire each year, first retirement will be by drawing of lots. The retiring member will not be eligible for re-election before the expiry of twelve calendar months from the date of retirements. A member of the Court will not participate in cases in which his own paper is involved.

2. The Secretary shall:

   1. Receive complaints in writing from any party that may be aggrieved by an alleged breach of Code by any newspaper which is a signatory to the Code.

   2. Submit the complaint to the Court and at the instance of the Court ask for a report on the complaint from the Editor of the newspaper complained against.

   3. On the receipt of such a report, or if no reporter is received within 30 days, shall convene, under instructions of the Chairman of the Court, a meeting of it at which representatives of the aggrieved party and the Editor concerned shall be invited to be present.

   4. The finding of the Court of Honor on any such complaint shall be issued in the form of a communique which it will be obligatory for all signatory newspapers and periodicals to publish. Failure by any signatory to publish such a communique will be deemed a violation of the Code and dealt with accordingly.

3. The Court may warn or condemn the newspaper which is deemed to have contravened the Code, or it may seek to reconcile the parties.

4. In cases where a serious offense is found to have been committed, the Court can ask the competent organization to consider the expulsion of the newspaper from the press organization to which the newspaper belongs or withdraw its protection from the party concerned.

5. The Chairman of the Court shall have the power to initiate proceedings suo moto in connection with any breach of the Code by any signatory.

6. The aggrieved party-whether it be Government or a private individual-will refrain from taking any other action when it has forwarded a complaint to the Press Court of Honor whose findings shall be accepted.

7. These provisions shall be applicable to all newspapers, periodicals and news agencies which become signatories to the Code.

8. Newspapers or periodicals who are not members of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors shall also be entitled to become signatories to the Code.

Source: Cooper, Thomas W. 1989. Communication Ethics and Global Change. New York: Longman, p.306-308