Editor's Code of Conduct

Question 1

What does Clause 1 Accuracy state?

Answer 1

Accuracy - must not publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information/images, including headlines not supported by the text.
Inaccuracies must be corrected and, where appropriate, an apology published.
Must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact

Question 2

What does Clause 2 Privacy state?

Answer 2

Privacy: Everyone is entitled to respect for their private and family life, home, physical and mental health, and correspondence, including digital communications. UNACCEPTABLE to photograph individuals without consent in public or private places where there is an expectation of privacy

Question 3

What is the defence for Clause 2 Privacy ?

Answer 3

Everyone is entitled to respect for their private and family life, home, physical and mental health, and correspondence, including digital communication

Must justify intrusions without consent – account will be taken of the complainants own public disclosures of information, and how readily available it is in the public domain

It is unacceptable to photograph individuals, without their consent, in public or private places where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Question 4

What does Clause 3 Harrasment state?

Answer 4

Must not engage in intimidation, harassment, or persistent pursuit
Must not persist in questioning, telephoning, pursuing or photographing individuals once asked to desist, nor remain on property when asked to leave
If requested, must identify themselves and who they represent

Question 5

What does Clause 4 Intrusion into grief or shock state?

Answer 5

Approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion, publication must be handled sensitively.
These provisions should not restrict the right to report legal proceedings

Question 6

What does Clause 5 Reporting Suicide state?

Answer 6

To prevent simulative acts, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail of the method used, while considering the media’s right to report legal proceedings

Question 7

What does Clause 6 Children state?

Answer 7

All pupils should be free to complete their time at school without unnecessary intrusion
Must not be approached or photographed at school without permission of school authorities
Must not be interviewed/ photographed on issues involving their own/another child’s welfare unless a custodial parent or responsible adult consents
They/guardians must not be paid for material involving their welfare, unless it is clearly in the child’s interest
Editor’s must not use the fame of a parent or guardian as justification for publishing details of a child’s private life

Question 8

What does Clause 7 Children in Sex Cases state?

Answer 8

The press must not, even if legally free to do so, identify children who are victims of witnesses in cases involving sex offences
The child must not be identified, adult may be identified, the word incest can’t be used, and nothing should imply the relationship between the accused and the child

Question 9

What does Clause 8 Hospitals state?

Answer 9

Must identify themselves and obtain permission from a responsible executive before entering non-public areas of hospitals, or similar institutions, to pursue enquiries

Question 10

What does Clause 9 Reporting of Crime state?

Answer 10

Relatives or friends of persons convicted/accused of crime shouldn’t be identified without consent, unless genuinely relevant
Regard paid to vulnerable position of children
Avoid naming children after arrest for criminal offence, unless given consent

Question 11

What does Clause 10 Clandestine devices and subterfuge state?

Answer 11

Must not obtain or publish material by using hidden cameras, intercepting calls messaes or emails, removal of documents or photographs, or digitally held information without consent
Can be justified in public interest, or when the material cannot be obtained by other means

Question 12

What does Clause 11 Victims of sexual assault state?

Answer 12

Must not identify or publish material likely to lead to the identification of victims, unless adequate justification or legally free to do so
Entitled to make enquiries, but must exercise discretion

Question 13

What does Clause 12 Discrimination state?

Answer 13

Must avoid prejudicial or prerogative reference to race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any physical/mental illness or disability
Must be avoided unless genuinely relevant

Question 14

What does Clause 13 Financial Journalism state?

Answer 14

Must not use for their own profit financial information in advance of publication
Must not write about shares or securities in whose performance they know have a significant financial interest without disclosing to editor
Must not buy or sell shares or securities about which they have written about

Question 15

What does Clause 14 Confidential sources state?

Answer 15

Moral obligation to protect confidential sources of information

Question 16

What does Clause 15 Witness payments in criminal trials state?

Answer 16

No payment or offer of payment to a witness should be made once proceedings are active
Lasts until suspect is freed unconditionally, discontinued, or entered guilty plea
Must not make payment before active but likely and foreseeable, unless in publish interest – must not influence evidence
Should not in any case, be made conditional on the outcome

Question 17

What does Clause 16 Payments to criminals state?

Answer 17

Payments for stories, pictures or information to exploit or glamorise crime must not be made to convicted or confessed criminals or their associates
Public interest – need to demonstrate good reason that it would be served

Question 18

What are the guidelines for Public Interest?

Answer 18

-Detecting or exposing crime
-Public health and safety
-Protecting the public from being misled by an action or statement
-Disclosing failure to comply with any obligation
-Disclosing miscarriage of justice
-Contributing to a matter of public debate – serious impropriety, unethical conduct, incompetence concerning the public
-Freedom of Expression

Question 19

How is the Public Interest defence served?

Answer 19

Regulator will consider extent it is in the public domain
Publisher must demonstrate that they reasonably believed publication would serve and be proportionate to public interest, and explain how they came to that decision
Exceptional public interest for identifying children under 16.