Codes of Conduct update

There are 4 main codes of conduct that apply to journalists and news organisations.

1. NUJ – National Union of Journalists 

This is the primary body for journalists and is followed by the major media organisations.

2. IPSO – Independent Press Standards Organisation 

This has replaced the PCC (Press Complaints Commission). It’s the code that will adopt some key areas of the Editors Code of Practice. It’s the press body for journalists working for newspapers, magazines and online publications.

3. OFCOM – The Office of Communications 

This is the broadcasting code for television and radio

4. BBC Guidelines 

The BBC conduct their own standards and values

All these codes are important because it guides journalists through ethical issues and provides a benchmark for behaviour. The law is specific and very limited. Journalists must reassure audiences that they can build their trust.

Press Regulation

Journalists working in print or broadcast must take into consideration that there are vital regulatory rules to follow.

A new watchdog introduced in 2014 – the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) has replaced the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).

There are no state controls in the UK in regards to running newspapers, magazines and websites. Anyone can start a new publication. Press freedom keeps the British media effectively free from state interference.

The PCC came into effect in 1991 to relax statutory regulation. It regulated the conduct of editors and journalists and dealt with complaints against newspapers, magazines and websites.

But the Guardian announced in 2011 the colossal scale of phone hacking by the now defunct News of the World. This led to the closure of the PCC because many people saw it as ineffective. For instance, sanctions were feeble and they didn’t impose fines. In 2012, David Cameron appointed senior judge, Lord Justice Leveson to hold a public inquiry into ‘the culture, practices, and ethics of the press.’

A key issue that rocked many editors and press groups was the fact that Leveson wanted future governments to influence press freedom. Parliament approved a Royal Charter system based on Leveson’s recommendations. But the papers disagreed with the proposal. So instead most newspapers and magazines agreed to fund IPSO which is free from state involvement. There are exceptions such as The Guardian, Financial Times and the London Evening Standard.

IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation 

• New regulator for newspapers, magazines and websites
• Has a low cost arbitration scheme
• Imposes fines of up to £1 million
• The code will be based on the Editor’s Code of Practice
• Complaints must go to the editor first. If complainants are not happy with their response – they can contact IPSO for further assistance.
• Requirements for apologies and corrections

OFCOM – The Office of Communications 

• Is the state regulator for broadcast journalism in the UK
• Deals with complaints against broadcast journalists and organisations
• The Ofcom broadcasting code states that commercial broadcast organisations must be impartial when covering politics and social issues. Reports must be accurate, treat people fairly, respect privacy and avoid causing harm and offence.
• Imposes substantial fines for breaches of the code.
• Commercial broadcasters cannot transmit without a licence from Ofcom

The OFCOM code has 10 rules that broadcast journalists must follow:

• Section 1: Protecting children and those under 18
• Section 2: Avoiding harm and offence
• Section 3: Crime reporting
• Section 4: Covering religion
• Section 5: Due impartiality and due accuracy and undue prominence of views and opinions
• Section 6: Elections and referendums
• Section 7: Fairness
• Section 8: Protecting privacy
• Section 9: Commercial references in television programming
• Section 10: Commercial communications in radio programming

Journalists must fear Ofcom because it holds many regulatory powers. If you breach the codes of Ofcom they have the power to make you broadcast your corrections or a statement of Ofcom’s findings, not to repeat your programme, take you off air and impose fines of up to 5% of the companies revenue.

The BBC 

The BBC is one of the largest news organisations in the world. The organisation operates as a licence fee system. The BBC’s editorial guidelines sets out standards for it’s own journalism such as undercover investigations.

All their journalistic output is regulated by the BBC Trust. So if any complaints are raised they must be considered by the BBC. But if any broadcast material is too damaging then complainants can contact Ofcom directly if they’re discontent with the BBC’s response.

Some parts of the Ofcom code apply to the BBC. But exceptions are impartiality, inaccuracy and election provisions.

Plus the BBC’s Online College of Journalism trains it’s journalists in law and ethics and is open to everyone for access.

The importance of codes

A journalist’s reputation really matters because we want to develop and maintain a relationship of trust with our audience. Depending on which organisation you work for – always consider the brand. Codes ultimately reassure audiences.

The key areas of the code of practice 

• Ethical behaviour expected from journalists
• Fair Treatment
• Respect for privacy
• Requirement for accuracy and impartiality
• Protecting children and young people

Codes of Conduct

There are four codes of conduct that apply to journalists.

1. The NUJ (National Union of Journalists): is the primary body for journalists and is followed by the majority of media organisations.

2. The PCC – Press Complaints Commission and the Editor’s Code of Practice: this is the code that editors follow and it protects peoples’ privacy. News International follows this and if anyone breaks the code, they will be sacked from the Murdoch empire.

3. BBC Producer Guidelines (standards and values): have their own set of guidelines and also have their own regulation as the BBC Trust.

4. OFCOM Broadcasting Code: corresponds to broadcasting organisations from ITV to commercial radio. Except SKY which is under the Murdoch empire.

The Leveson Inquiry

The Leveson Inquiry announced last week a new legislation to regulate the media in the UK. Lord Justice Leveson proposed an independent regulator where newspapers have to sign up to a new press regulator. The new press regulator will be adopted by an act of parliament and given legally binding powers. Newspapers that do not sign up will face exemplary charges and OFCOM could potentially be the backstop regulator. They could also pay a claimant’s cost in legal actions if they won. The new independent regulator will evidently replace the PCC – Press Complaints Commission. The new legislation involves heavy fines, up to £1 million with apologies and corrections submitted by media organisations.

David Cameron has basically shot himself in the foot as his own government authorised the Leveson Inquiry to investigate reports into alleged phone hacking by journalists and other media organisations. They were hacking not just famous faces but also ordinary people. Lord Justice Leveson released a report into the culture and practice of press ethics and has decided that press ethics should be backed by Parliament – statute regulation. This really poses dangers to journalism in the UK as there will certainly be restrictions to free press and press ethics. David Cameron totally opposes Justice Leveson’s proposals because it could only mean that he would be the first PM to initate statutory regulation.

The UK being a democratic country eludes free press and freedom of speech. In France, their media regulation is statutory and the UK can’t afford to be in this position.

It is incredibly important that a new legislation is adopted but trying to impose a statutory regulation is not the best idea. But on the contrary it just shows how weak and ineffective the PCC were in dealing with investigations into breach of privacy and conduct.

In some respects, justice has been done for the number of victims who got their phones hacked or received significant amounts of indecent privacy. For instance, Milly Dowler’s family must know that their last chapter has been closed and they can move forward. Their daughters death has potentially changed how the press works.

The media is somewhat incompetent because the PCC and OFCOM were introduced to monitor media standards. Many rules were breached and it just shows that the media cannot abide by these rules. Maybe a harder stance on these measures will make media organisations think twice before publishing or submitting something.

It is a shame that Cameron and Miliband completely disagree over Leveson’s proposals and this just shows the impotency of our government, that it may be logically best to disagree with the new proposals for the sake of the Conservative party, but that means that Cameron has snubbed his back on the number of victims who were part of the process.

The aftermath of the Leveson Inquiry demonstrates that journalistic standards are going to change and to a large degree society and even media organisations must accept a new press body because the press industry made so many mistakes.

Broadcast Regulation

Broadcast journalism has a tendency to influence, offend or cause detriment to audiences, rather than the journalism of newspapers, magazines and online publications. It provides more of an emotional stance with images and sound material that provokes immediate attention. Broadcast organisations and their reporters must provide news that aims to be impartial about politics, current affairs and social issues.

Broadcast Regulation specifically outlines Ofcom – Office of Communications. Ofcom is an independent regulator that administers complaints from the public against broadcast organisations. The Communications Act 2003 provides Ofcom with roles such as a vast range of TV and radio services of high quality and to retain plurality in broadcasting. They also have to consider which television programmes are ‘fit and proper’ to run. Ofcom monitors whether TV and radio services are keeping to the requirements of their licences.

The Ofcom Broadcasting Code initiates that anyone who is agonized by a programme such as how they were treated and if the programme has been broadcasted they can then complain to Ofcom. Therefore if Ofcom do hold the complaint they have the authority to not repeat the programme, or the broadcaster must make a prompt correction or reason. Ofcom also fines broadcast organisations if they breach the code. If broadcasters consistently do this then Ofcom can shorten, suspend or even close the station. Primarily, this is not the case for licences such as the BBC, Channel 4 and S4C where they are public service broadcasters.

The Ofcom Code authorises 10 sections:

1. Protection of under 18’s

2. Avoid harm and offence

3. Covering crime

4. Covering religion

5. Due impartiality and due accuracy and undue prominence of views and opinions

6. Covering elections & referendums

7. Fairness

8. Protecting Privacy

9. TV programming

10. Commercial coomunications in radio programming