Ethics

A media organisation will be judged on the accuracy and reliability of its journalism, which must be well-sourced, supported by strong evidence, examined and tested, clear and unambiguous. Verified facts must form the basis of all news, not rumour or speculation.

For journalists, being impartial means presenting information without demonstrating favouritism towards any specific viewpoint or party.

Bias is a prejudice or favour for or against an individual or group. It is often an inaccurate and unfair judgement. We are all biased. It’s normal, although it is not desirable.

Journalists face a difficult balancing act. They must respect privacy, but they must also investigate issues that are in the public interest.

Fairness in journalism means exploring all sides of an issue and reporting the findings accurately.

In journalism, public trust is essential for credibility. One of the most significant threats to that trust are the many possible conflicts of interest that might confront journalists.

Journalists must ensure that the material they use in coverage has a clear editorial purpose. Where that material is likely to offend, there need to be clear warnings of what is coming up.

The following are commonly accepted ethical guidelines for photojournalists adopted by most mainstream media.