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CODE of ETHICS - Nigerian Press Council

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CODE of ETHICS - Nigerian Press Council

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damilarehammed09
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Nigerian Press

Council

CODE OF ETHICS
CODE OF ETHICS FOR NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS

PREAMBLE

Journalism entails a high degree of public trust. To earn and maintain this trust, it
is morally imperative for every journalist and every news medium to observe the
highest professional and ethical standards. In the exercise of these duties, a
journalist should always have a healthy regard for the public interest.

Truth is the cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive diligently
to ascertain the truth of every event.

Conscious of the responsibilities and duties of journalists as purveyors of


information, we, Nigerian journalist, give to ourselves this Code of Ethics. It is the
duty of every journalist to observe its provisions.

l. EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
Decisions concerning the content of news should be the responsibility of a
professional journalist.

2. ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS

i. The public has a right to know. Factual, accurate balance and fair reporting is
the ultimate objective of good journalism and the basis of earning public trust
and confidence.

ii. A journalist should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading


information. Where such information has been inadvertently
published, prompt correction should be made. A journalist must hold the right of
reply as a cardinal rule of practice.

iii. In the course of his duties a journalist should strive to separate facts from
conjecture and comment.

3. PRIVACY

As a general rule, a journalist should respect the privacy of individuals and their
families unless it affects public interest.

A. Information on the private life of an individual or his family should only be


published if it impinges on public interest.

B. Publishing of such information about an individual as mentioned above


should be deemed justifiable only if it is directed at:

i. Exposing crime or serious misdemeanor;


ii. Exposing anti-social conduct;

iii. Protecting public health, morality and safety;

iv. Preventing the public from being misled by some statement or action of the
individual concerned.

4. PRIVILEGE / NON-DISCLOSURE

i. A journalist should observe the universally accepted principle of confidentiality


and should not disclose the source of information obtained in confidence.

ii. A journalist should not breach an agreement with a source of information


obtained as “off- the-record” or as “back ground information.

5. DECENCY

i. A journalist should dress and comport himself in a manner that conforms with
public taste.

ii.A journalist should refrain from using offensive, abusive or vulgar language.

iii.A journalist should not present lurid details, either in words or picture, of
violence, sexual acts, abhorrent or horrid scenes.

iv. In case involving personal grief or shock, enquiries should be carried out and
approaches made with sympathy and discretion.
v. Unless it is in the furtherance of the public’s right to know, a journalist should
generally avoid identifying relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of
crime.

6. DISCRIMINATION

A journalist should refrain from making pejorative reference to a person’s ethnic


group, religion, sex or to any physical or mental illness or handicap.

7. REWARDAND GRATIFICATION

i. A journalist should neither solicit nor accept bribe, gratification or patronage to


suppress or publish information.

ii. To demand payment for the publication of news is inimical to the notion of
news as a fair, accurate, unbiased and factual report of an event.

8. VIOLENCE

A journalist should not present or report acts of violence, armed robberies,


terrorist activities or vulgar display of wealth in a manner that glorifies such acts
in the eyes of the public.

9. CHILDRENANDMINORS

A journalist should not identify, either by name or picture, or interview children


under the age of 16 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, crimes
and rituals or witchcraft either as victims, witnesses or defendants.

10. ACCESS TO INFORMATION


A journalist should strive to employ open and honest means in the gathering of
information. Exceptional methods may be employed only when the public
interest is at stake.

11. PUBLIC INTEREST

A journalist should strive to enhance national unity and public good.

12. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

A journalist should promote universal principles of human rights, democracy,


justice, equity, peace and international understanding.

13. PLAGIARISM

A journalist should not copy, wholesale or in part, other people’s work without
attribution and/or consent.

14. COPYRIGHT

i. Where a journalist reproduces a work, be it in print, broadcast, art work or


design, proper acknowledgement should be accorded the author.

ii. A journalist should abide by all rules of copyright, established by national and
international laws and conventions.

15. PRESS FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY

A journalist should strive at all-times to enhance press freedom and


responsibility.
Services

Adjudication of Complaints
Nigerian Press Council is established by Complaints Procedure
CAP N128 to promote high professional Service Delivery Charter
standards for the Nigeria Press.

Lagos Liaison Head Office


No 15A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, P.M.B. 3451 Block C 8TH Floor C807-C816, Head of
Surulere, Lagos Service Federal Secretariat, Abuja, Nigeria

© 2024 Nigerian Press Council Powered by Nigerian Press Council

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