Ethics and Editors' Code

Question 1

Which bodies regulate print and online journalism?

Answer 1

• IPSO and IMPRESS

- Self regulatory

Question 2

Which body regulates broadcasting?

Answer 2

• OFCOM

- Statutory regulations

Question 3

What criteria does something have to meet to be classed as in the public interest?

Answer 3

• Detecting or exposing crime
• Protecting public health and safety
• Protecting the public from being misled- public interest in freedom of expression

Question 4

Describe the accuracy clause (Clause 1) of the IPSO code

Answer 4

• Take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted info or images, including headlines not supported by the text
• Distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact
• NO PUBLIC INTEREST DEFENCE

Question 5

Describe the privacy clause (Clause 2) of the IPSO code?

Answer 5

• Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private family life, home, health, and correspondence, including digital comms
• Account will be taken of the complainant’s own public disclosures of info
• It’s unacceptable to photo individuals, without their consent, in public or private places where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy

Question 6

Describe the harassment clause (Clause 3) of the IPSO code

Answer 6

• Do not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit
• Don’t persist in questioning, telephoning, pursuing, or photographing individuals once asked to stop
• Don’t remain on property when asked to leave

Question 7

Describe the intrusion into grief and shock clause (Clause 4) of the IPSO code

Answer 7

• Make enquiries and approaches with sympathy and discretion
• Handle publication sensitivity
• Don’t publish details of people caught up in traumatic events before next of kin have been informed
• NO PUBLIC INTEREST

Question 8

Describe the reporting suicide clause (Clause 5) of the IPSO code

Answer 8

• News of suicide may prompt others to take their own lives in same way
• Avoid excessive details
• To avoid simulative acts (copycat incidents)

Question 9

Describe the children clause (Clause 6) of the IPSO code

Answer 9

• Must not be photographed/filmed (secretly or openly) or interviewed about issues concerning their welfare or welfare of another child without consent of appropriate adult
• Children must be allowed to complete their education without interference
• Children must not be photographed on school premises without permission of the school
• Must not use fame/notoriety/position of parent as sole justification for publishing details of child’s private life
• There must be “exceptional public interest to breach these clauses

Question 10

What does OFCOM say when it comes to children and vulnerable people?

Answer 10

• Broadcasters should pay particular attention to privacy of people under 16
• Where programme features an individual under 16 or vulnerable person in a way that infringes privacy, consent must be obtained
• Unless it is warranted to proceed without consent (ie in public interest)

Question 11

Describe the children in sex cases clause (Clause 7) of the IPSO code?

Answer 11

• Do not, even if legally free to do so, identify children under 16 who are victims or witnesses in sex offences cases
• Adults may be identified but don’t include info that implies relationship between child and accused

Question 12

Describe the hospitals clause (Clause 8) of the IPSO code

Answer 12

• Identify yourself as a journalist and obtain permission from a responsible executive before entering non-public areas of hospitals or similar institutions to pursue inquiries
• Remember, restrictions on intruding on privacy and particularly relevant to enquiries about individuals in hospitals or similar institutions

Question 13

Describe the reporting crimes clause (Clause 9) of the IPSO code

Answer 13

• Relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of crime shouldn’t generally be ID without consent, u less they are genuinely relevant to the story
• Particular regard should be paid to potentially vulnerable position of children who witness or are victims of, crime

Question 14

Describe the devices/subterfuge clause (Clause 10) of the IPSO code

Answer 14

• Always be upfront about who you are and what you’re doing
• Irrespective of Code, using hidden cameras or microphones could breach privacy laws
• Public interest exceptions only apply when reasonable to believe open approach wouldn’t work

Question 15

Is it a criminal offence to use a hidden camera/mic?

Answer 15

No

-Could breach civil law eg “reasonable expectation of privacy”

Question 16

Is it illegal to intercept emails and voicemails?

Answer 16

Yes

-Under RIPA and Computer Misuse Act 1990

Question 17

Can you record phone calls, and/or pretend to be someone you’re not?

Answer 17

Yes

-As long as you’re not impersonating a police officer, or to obtain goods by deception, or gain entry to property

Question 18

What does the Editors’ Code say about hidden cameras/subterfuge?

Answer 18

• Must not seek to obtain or publish material acquired by using hidden cameras or clandestine devices
• Or by intercepting private or mobile telephone calls, messages or emails
• Or by the unauthorised removal of documents, or photographs
• Or by accessing digitally-held private info without consent
• Recording phone calls you take part in without consent isn’t a breach (IPSO)
• There must be consent if material is intended for broadcast (OFCOM)
• Must not use misinterpretation or subterfuge
• Must ID yourself and whom you represent

Question 19

Describe the victims of sexual assault clause (Clause 11) of the IPSO code?

Answer 19

The press must not ID victims of sexual assault or to publish material likely to contribute to such ID unless there is adequate justification AND they’re legally free to do so

Question 20

Describe the discrimination clause (Clause 12) of the IPSO code

Answer 20

• Don’t include details of a person’s race, colour, religion, gender, ID, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or disability unless genuinely relevant to story
• Matters relating to discriminatory and pejorative language

Question 21

Describe the financial journalism clause (Clause 13) of the IPSO code

Answer 21

• Don’t use financial info you receive in advance of general publication for own profit, or pass such info to others
• Don’t write about shares/securities in whose performance you or close family has significant financial interest without disclosing interest to your editor
• Don’t buy or sell, either directly or through nominees or agents, shares or securities about which you will have written recently or about which you intend to write in near future

Question 22

Describe the confidential sources clause (Clause 14) of the IPSO code

Answer 22

Journalists have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of info

Question 23

Describe the witness payments in trial clause (Clause 15) of the IPSO code

Answer 23

No payment pr offer of payment to a witness- or any person who may reasonably be expected to be called as a witness- should be made in any case once proceedings active s defined by Contempt of Court Act 1981

Question 24

Describe the payments to criminals clause (Clause 16) of the IPSO code

Answer 24

Payments or offers of payments for stories, pictures of info, which seek to exploit a particular crime or to glorify or glamorise crime in general, must not be made directly or via agents to convicted or confessed criminals or top their associates
-May include family, friends and colleagues