Ethics

Question 1

clause 2 editor’s code

Answer 1

everyone is entitled to private and family life, health, home and correspondence
- unacceptable to take photos in a public/private place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy
- must be able to justify intrusions

Question 2

clause 6 editor’s code (1)

Answer 2

• children should be free to complete their time at school without unnecessary intrusion (and no photographs without permission)
• children can’t be interviewed/photod on issues regarding their own/anothers welfare without content or payment

Question 3

clause 6 editor’s code (2)

Answer 3

journalists must not use the fame/notoriety of parents/guardians as justification for publishing details of a child’s personal life

Question 4

clause 8 editor’s code

Answer 4

journalists must identify themselves when persuing enquiries at non-public areas of hospitals/similar institutions

Question 5

clause 4 editor’s code

Answer 5

enquiries into grief/shock must be mae with sympathy and discretion and handles sensitively

Question 6

clause 3 editor’s code

Answer 6

journalists should not persist in harrassment (questioning, telephoning, photographing) when asked to desist and must leave when asked

Question 7

clause 10 editor’s code

Answer 7

journalists should not use hidden cameras or clandestine devices (unless they are not able to obtain material by any other means)

Question 8

clause 5 editor’s code

Answer 8

care must be taken when reporting suicide to avoid copycat suicides
- avoid excessive detail of the methods used

Question 9

clause 1 editor’s code

Answer 9

take care not to publish inaccuracies, misleading or distorted information or images

Question 10

clause 7 editor’s code

Answer 10

must not, even if legally free to do so, identify children under 16 as witnesses or victims in sex offence cases

Question 11

clause 9 editor’s code

Answer 11

relatives/friends of people convicted or accused of crime should not be mentioned unless genuinely relevant
- particular regard to children under 18 involved

Question 12

clause 12 editor’s code

Answer 12

must avoid prejudicial or discriminative reference to race, colour, religion, sec, or anything else defamatory
- avoid details unless genuinely relevant

Question 13

clause 15 editor’s code

Answer 13

no payments/offers to witnesses or potential witnesses

Question 14

clause 16 editor’s code

Answer 14

no payments to criminals (of families of) for stories, information or pictures which seek to exploit a crime or glorify crime

Question 15

section 5 ofcom code

Answer 15

requires broadcasters to exercise ‘due impartiality’ and guard against ‘undue prominence of views and opinions’

Question 16

college of policing guidance

Answer 16

police have no power to stop journalists from photographing/filming in public places or to make them delete footage
- unless they suspect evidence of a crime is on the footage
- if journalist left the scene, police must get a court order to gather footage if they believe it is of a crime