ETHICS IN JOURNALISM

Social Responsibility
• While recognising that the newspaper is a great power", Mahatma
Gandhi- himself a great journalist and editor, was very clear about the
objectives of journalism and why it shouldn't be an unchained torrent
of water.

• He wasn't referring to external curbs or control on free speech and freedom of

the press - both of which he always supported and fought for. Instead, he was
articulating the idea of social responsibility of journalism.
• This simply put, means that journalism must be socially responsible, serve
the people with devotion, and educate them while avoiding sensationalism,
distortion and manipulation of facts in the news reports, and not
compromise with ethical standards of journalism for profit.
Importance of Journalism
• Voice of voiceless: As the fourth estate of democracy and voice of
voiceless'. The news media and the institution of journalism plays a
crucial role for keeping the citizens informed about powerful
instruments of public information, opinion and debates.
• Public watchdog: One cannot imagine a vibrant democracy without a
vibrant, independent and critical news media which not only
disseminates news and views of public importance but also acts as a
watchdog that monitors, investigates and critically examines the
functioning of key organs and institutions of the State, and evaluates
the performances of those in the public office and holds the
accountable.
Importance of Journalism
• Enhances vibrance of democracy: An independent news media which includes
legacy media like newspapers, magazines, television radio and new media like
online news portals and digital news platforms, has been integral to democracy's
long and tumultuous journey.

• Over time, it has evolved with democracy, especially in the late 19 and 20' century. There
and vibrant media is treated as a key parameter for the success of a democracy and in fact, is
among the crucial factors in measuring its health.
• Shaping the public perception: It has an influential role in shaping public
perception, setting the agenda for public debate and its widespread impact on the
society, politics, economy, culture and governance, news media and journalism
enjoys a powerful position in a democratic society.

• Thus, Napoleon Bonaparte had once famously said, "Four hostile newspapers are more to be
feared than a thousand bayonets."
Features of Responsible Journalism

• Transparency and accountability: The credibility and respect doesn't come

free or as a gift to the news media but eamed and sustained by adhering to the
ethical and moral standards of journalism. News media must also follow the
principles and norms of journalism and be transparent and accountable for its
reportage, commentary and overall functioning.
• Maintaining journalistic ethics: Like other public-facing professions,
journalism too has also evolved with a set of ethical principles, standards and
norms for fulfilling its social responsibility and serving the citizens better by
ensuring the quality of content and highest professional standards in gathering,
processing, filtering and dissemination of news and views.

• Journalistic ethics are basically a set of principles, standards, guidelines and code of
conduct prepared for professional journalists. It deals with conduct, character and
behavior of a journalist and how she works before, during and after the news gathering
and dissemination process.
Features of Responsible Journalism

• Self-regulation: Generally, it is expected from the news media outlets

and its professional journalists to not only strictly follow these
principles and norms but to also self-regulate in alignment with them.

• But given the non-mandatory and voluntary nature of journalistic ethics, there
are always complaints of violation by journalists and news media outlets.
• There is no denying the fact that a section of news media outlets are either
willingly or unwillingly deviating from or compromising on journalistic
ethics to attract more readers or viewers, for some personal gains and
generally, at the altar of commercial interests and to boost their bottom-lines.
Issues with Journalism in India
• Erosion of ethics in journalism: In India instances of violation of
ethical norms and principles; from indulging in Paid News, spreading
Fake News, engaging sensationalism and exaggerating trivial stories,
creating misleading headlines, breach of privacy, distortion of facts
has increased manifold.
• Biased reporting: Openly taking sides and bias in reporting. Besides
this, many mainstream news media outlets and their journalists are
found to be engaging in one-sided media trials, lobbying for personal
gains, blackmailing, manipulating news stories, engaging in malicious
and defamatory reporting, running propaganda and disinformation
campaigns.
Issues….
• Misuse of freedom of speech and press: There is a growing concern in the country that
many Indian news media outlets have shown little respect for journalistic ethics and norms
by regularly crossing the limits and becoming habitual offenders.

• In fact, the critics of unethical conduct of the news media are demanding stringent regulation in
place of ineffective self-regulatory mechanism and their voices are growing louder day by day.
• It may be noted that like many other liberal democracies, India too recognises the primacy of the
Freedom of the Press and allows for self-regulation of news media
• Manipulation of TRPs: Recently, various claims have been made about the manipulation
of TRPs (Target Rating Points) by some TV channels by rigging the devices used by the
Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.

• TRP is the metric used by the marketing and advertising agencies to evaluate viewership. It
represents how many people, from which socio-economic categories, watched which channels for
how much time during a particular period. This period is one minute as per the international
standards.
Acts and Agencies
• The Press Council of India (PCI): A statutory and quasi-judicial
body, was established by an Act of Parliament. It functions as a
"watchdog of the press, for the press and by the press".

• Its two broad objectives are-safeguarding the freedom of the press and to
improve its quality and standards.
• It works on the premise of self-regulation of print media but has no punitive
powers.
• It can only censure, warn or ask newspapers to issue apologies and corrections.
• It has also put out a detailed "Norms of Journalistic Conduct" which it
expects journalists and newspapers to follow with utmost care and diligence.
Acts and Agencies
• News Broadcasting Standard Authority (NBSA): It is a non-
governmental body, it oversees the news channels. It has issued
a "Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards" for its member
news channels who had voluntarily pledged to follow it.

• Like the PCI, the NBSA too is headed by a retired Supreme Court
judge and its other members comprise well-known people belonging to civil
society and editors of TV news channels.
• It receives complaints of violation of technical norms against member TV
news channels and decides after hearing all the sides. Additionally, it has the
power of imposing a fine that can go up to Rs. one lakh against an errant
channel.
Acts and Agencies
• Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995: Apart from the
NBSA, the news channels are also regulated by the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting (I&B) under the Cable Television
Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 which contains a "programme
code" and an "advertising code"' to which news channels have to
adhere.

• Their adherence to this code is, in fact, one of the pre-conditions for obtaining
the license for a news channel. The I&B Ministry, on some rare occasions, for
violation of "programme code has taken strict action against errant channels
while on others has issued advisories to the news channels.
Issues with Regulation
• Ineffective in reforming unethical conducts: The real question facing is how
effective is the present architecture of news media regulation in India considering
the growing instances of violation of ethical principles and norms by the news
media and journalists.
• Lack of introspection: Apart from jurists, intellectuals and civil society members,
many senior journalists and editors themselves are not happy with the present state
of journalistic ethics in India.

• They are calling for serious introspection from news media outlets and the journalists'
community to take steps to minimise the flouting of ethical norms, and to take corrective
measures and honest initiatives to improve the quality and standards of the news media in
India.
• News media outlets have to understand that it's in their own interest to follow ethical norms to
sustain public faith in them.
Way forward…
• Initiating discussions on reforms: Professional bodies like the
Editors Guild of India, NBA and statutory bodies like PCI can take
lead and initiate debate and discussion on this issue and propose
remedial measures.

• Everyone knows the cost of failure would be very high as witnessed in the
News of the World scandal in the UK. In India too, a chorus demanding
harsher regulation is gaining momentum.

• Strict adherence to ethical norms: It is also important that the saner voices
within the media fraternity will see the warning signs and act fast to restore
the credibility of the news media and journalism as a profession by ensuring
adherence to ethical norms, try to win citizens' confidence and work to
strengthen the social contract with the public.
Way forward…
• Imposing reasonable restrictions on the media: While demanding
punitive power for the Press Council of India, it is articulated that
there is no freedom which is absolute. All freedoms are subject to
reasonable restrictions, and are also coupled with responsibilities.

• In a democracy everyone is accountable to the people, and so is the media.

Therefore Indian media must now introspect and develop a sense of
responsibility and maturity. One hopes that the Indian news media will
remember the advice and warning of Mahatma Gandhi.
Reforms in USA
• Pollution of democratic discourse: Earlier due to yellow
journalism, newspapers in the USA were riddled with sensational
crime stories with exaggerated headlines, pictures and sketches. There
was cut-throat competition and a mad rush to attract more readers and
maximising the profits for newspapers' owners. But this was also
polluting the democratic discourse, distorting the public opinion,
impairing the citizens' right and negatively affecting their democratic
choices and decisions.
Reforms in USA
• Campaign for reforms: Slowly a concerted campaign started in the US
and many other countries in the early 20h century to bring in ethics and
principles with a set of guidelines and code of conduct for news media and
journalists.

• Canons of journalism: In the US, in 1922, the American Society of Newspaper

Editors (ASNE) adopted a set of ethical principles titled "Canons of Journalism',
which was later revised and renamed 'Statement of Principles in 1975.
• Key principles: The ASNE proposed six key principles; Responsibility, Freedom
of the Press, Independence, Truth and Accuracy, Impartiality and Fair Play.

• These principles were devised to professionalise the news media and journalism and to set it to
ethical standards to monitor and evaluate the journalistic work and its contents.
Reforms in USA
• Hutchins Commission: This Commission was established to review
the functioning of the press and the impact of media ownership on its
content. The Commission reiterated that while the freedom of press is
paramount, it also has a moral obligation to consider the well-being of
the general public when making its decisions and choices.

• It provided a strong philosophical basis for adopting these ethical norms and
standards for improving the quality of news media and journalism. The report
echoed Gandhi's concerns of "an uncontrollable pen" while stressing that
its "sole aim should be service":
Yellow Journalism
• It is a style of newspaper reporting that emphasises sensationalism
over facts.

• In this the use of lurid features and sensationalized news in newspaper

publishing to attract readers and increase circulation.
• The phrase was coined in the 1890s to describe the tactics employed in the
furious competition between two New York City newspapers, the World and
the Journal.
Ethics in Journalism
• Truth and Accuracy: Journalists have a responsibility to report the truth and verify the accuracy of their
information. They should diligently research their stories, cross-check facts from multiple sources, and clearly
differentiate between news and opinion. Inaccurate or false information can mislead the public and erode trust
in journalism.

• Objectivity and Impartiality: Journalists strive to be objective and impartial in their reporting. They should
present information fairly, without bias or personal opinion, allowing readers to form their own judgments.
Journalists should disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may compromise their objectivity. By
upholding these standards, journalists build trust with the public, ensuring the dissemination of reliable
information and upholding the integrity of journalism as a pillar of democracy.

• Independence: Journalists must maintain their independence from external influences, including political,
commercial, or personal pressures. They should resist attempts to manipulate or censor their reporting and work
in the best interest of the public. Journalists have a duty to be free from undue influence and serve as a voice for
the voiceless.

• Privacy and Sensitivity: Journalists should respect individuals’ privacy rights and exercise sensitivity when
reporting on personal matters. They should consider the potential harm that may arise from their reporting and
exercise caution in identifying vulnerable individuals or publishing private information without consent.
Ethics in Journalism
• Accountability and Corrections: Journalists should be accountable for their work and open to
criticism. If errors or inaccuracies are identified, they should promptly issue corrections and
provide the public with accurate information. Journalists should also provide an avenue for
individuals to voice their concerns and seek redress for any harm caused by their reporting.

• Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity: Journalism should reflect the diverse perspectives and
cultures of society. Journalists should be mindful of cultural sensitivities, avoid stereotypes, and
strive for inclusivity in their reporting. They should seek out diverse voices and ensure the
representation of different communities and viewpoints.

• Ethical Use of Sources: Journalists should respect the confidentiality and anonymity of their
sources whenever necessary. They should avoid undue intrusion or harassment while gathering
information and protect the identity of whistleblowers or individuals at risk. Trust and integrity
in sourcing are essential for maintaining the credibility of journalism.
Digital Media-Ethics
• The expression “fake news” grew in popularity during the 2016 election in the
United States. Fake news refers to the spread of misinformation, often through
digital channels. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately
80% of surveyed Americans reported seeing fake news about the pandemic.
• However, this 80% only captures the Americans who were aware that they were
consuming fake news. The following statistics paint a more comprehensive
picture of Americans’ interaction with misinformation:
• 26% of Americans are very confident that they can recognize fake news when
they see it
• 67% of Americans who believed fake news in the past experienced a great deal of
confusion
• 10% of Americans reported that they knowingly shared fake news
Examples of Fake News
• Online manipulation and disinformation tactics played an important role in elections in at least 18 countries over the past
year, including the US.

• The Chinese and Russian regimes pioneered the use of surreptitious methods to distort online discussions and suppress
dissent more than a decade ago, but the practice has since gone global.

• Paid Government Commentators: Venezuela, the Philippines, and Turkey were among 30 countries where governments
were found to employ armies of “opinion shapers” to spread government views, drive particular agendas, and counter
government critics on social media.

• Both state and non-state actors are increasingly creating automated accounts on social media to manipulate online
discussions.

• In Mexico, an estimated 75,000 automated accounts known colloquially as Peñabots have been employed to overwhelm
political opposition on Twitter.

• Bots drown out activists with hate speech on the web. Fake news is overwhelming and eclipsing the real truth.
Scale and problem in India
• Misinformation and disinformation spread in media is becoming a serious social challenge. It is
leading to the poisonous atmosphere on the web and causing riots and lynchings on the road.
• In the age of the internet (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter,) it is a serious problem as rumours,
morphed images, click-baits, motivated stories, unverified information, planted stories for
various interests spread easily among 35 crore internet users in India.
• There have been many instances of online rumours leading to killings of innocent people. In
some cases, ministers have deleted tweets after realizing the fake news which they shared
earlier.
• In India, WhatsApp is the platform most vulnerable to fake news. Millions of Indians (a vast
percentage is uneducated) using mobile internet innocently forwarding ‘good morning’
messages every day are seen as most vulnerable to fake news.

• In the recent Karnataka Assembly elections (2018) fake news about rival parties and candidates
flooded the media.

• It may not be a coincidence that India has the highest number of selfie deaths (person dying
while trying to take a selfie) in the world (76 deaths out of 127 reported globally between
March 2014 and September 2016). Use and abuse of mobile and internet remain a concern.
Some examples in India

• Muzzafarnagar riots of 2013: fake video fuelled communal passions

• UNESCO has declared ‘Jana Gana Mana’ best national anthem in the world (WhatsApp) Dawood properties worth
Rs 15000 Cr seized in Dubai (Zee News, ABP)
• President Kovind makes Twitter debut; gains 3 million followers in one hour (Republic, Zee news, TOI etc.)
• Nostradamus had predicted the rise of supreme leader Narendus (Zee News) Dying Woman Molested, Video shows
(The Hindu)
• Fatwa in Saudi Arabia; Men can eat wives when hungry (AajTak) GPS tracking nanochip in 2000 Rupee notes (Nov
2016)
• Salt Shortage rumours (Nov 2016)
• Child kidnapping rumours lead to lynchings by a mob in Jharkhand
• Minister using a Russian photo to show LED-electrification of streets
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) annual report used a picture of Spain-Morocco border to show Indian border
floodlighting
• Missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed has joined the ISIS
Laws to curb Fake news
There is no specific law against fake news in India. Free publication of news flows from Article 19 of the Constitution
guaranteeing freedom of speech:

• Press Council of India, a regulatory body, can warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, the news agency, the editor or
the journalist or disapprove the conduct of the editor or the journalist if it finds that a newspaper or a news agency has
violated journalistic ethics.
• News Broadcasters Association (NBA) represents the private television news and current affairs broadcasters. The self-
regulatory body probes complaints against electronic media.
• Indian Broadcast Foundation (IBF) also looks into the complaints against contents aired by channels.
• Broadcasting Content Complaint Council (BCCC) admits complaints against TV broadcasters for objectionable TV
content and fake news.
• Indian Penal Code (IPC) has certain sections which could curb fake news: Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation
with intent to cause riot) and 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) can
be invoked to guard against fake news.
• Section 66 in The Information Technology Act, 2000: If any person, dishonestly or fraudulently, does any act referred
to in section 43 (damage to computer, computer system), he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees or with both.
•
Civil or Criminal Case for Defamation is another resort against fake news for individuals and groups hurt by the fake
news. IPC Section 499 (defamation) and 500 (whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for
a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both) provide for a defamation suit.
Government response…
• On 2 April 2018, the government amended the ‘Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists’, to tackle fake news
across media by providing for cancellation of accreditation of journalists even before the completion of proposed
15-days inquiry. It was withdrawn in fifteen hours after protests by media for being authoritarian.

• Note that India’s rank is 136 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index (2017).
• The Rajiv Gandhi government also had to withdraw the 1988 Defamation Bill aimed at curtailing press freedom. In
the wake of Bofors and other corruption reporting in media, the bill sought to create new offenses of ‘criminal
imputation’ and ‘scurrilous writings’
Education, Awareness, Regulation Needed
• Fake news is often created and circulated for gaining electoral currency and political gains. Often
government’s own party and agencies (through the undisclosed purchase of political ads and IT
cells) may be involved. It is a rising trend seen in many countries led by China and Russia where
internet manipulation and control is very high.
• Any future legislation to curb fake news should take the whole picture into account and not blame
the media and go for knee-jerk reactions; in this age of new media anyone can create and circulate
new for undisclosed benefits.
• Controlling fake news is a tricky issue: not controlling trolls could lead to national and international
instability while doing too much to control it could harm democracy.
• Countering content manipulation and fake news to restore faith in social media without undermining
internet and media freedom will require public education, strengthening of regulations and effort of
tech companies to make suitable algorithms for news curation.
• Italy, for example, has experimentally added ‘recognizing fake news’ in school syllabus. India
should also seriously emphasize cybersecurity, internet education, fake news education in the
academic curriculum at all levels.