NUJ Code of Conduct

Question 1

Purpose of the code

Answer 1

• Advise members, and other journalists, on how to carry out their work ethically.
• It has been used by journalists over the decades to challenge unethical instructions and produce content that is “honestly conveyed, accurate and fair”.

Question 2

A Journalist

1 - Freedom of Expression

Answer 2

At all times upholds and defends the principle of media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed.

Question 3

A Journalist

2 - Accuracy and objectivity

Answer 3

• Strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair.

Question 4

A Journalist

3 - Corrections

Answer 4

Does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies.

Question 5

A Journalist

4 - Communication

Answer 5

Differentiates between fact and opinion.

Question 6

A Journalist

5 - Subterfuge

Answer 6

Obtains material by honest, straightforward and open means, with the exception of investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means.

Question 7

A Journalist

Intrusion/Privacy

Answer 7

Does nothing to intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest.

Question 8

A Journalist

7 - Confidential sources

Answer 8

Protects the identity of sources who supply information in confidence and material gathered in the course of her/his work.

Question 9

A Journalist

8 - Intergrity

Answer 9

Resists threats or any other inducements to influence, distort or suppress information and takes no unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of her/his duties before the information is public knowledge.

Question 10

A Journalist

9 - Anti-discrimination

Answer 10

Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Question 11

A Journalist

10 - Commercial

Answer 11

Does not by way of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial product or service save for the promotion of her/his own work or of the medium by which she/he is employed

Question 12

A Journalist

11 - Interviewing children

Answer 12

Shall normally seek the consent of an appropriate adult when interviewing or photographing a child for a story about her/his welfare.

Question 13

A Journalist

12 - Plagiarism

Answer 13

Avoids plagiarism

Question 14

How the NUJ defines the public interest

Answer 14

• Detecting or exposing crime or a serious misdemeanour.
• Protecting public health and safety;
• Preventing the public from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organisation;
• Exposing misuse of public funds or other forms of corruption by public bodies;
• Revealing potential conflicts of interest by those in positions of power and influence;
• Exposing corporate greed;
• Exposing hypocritical behaviour by those holding high office.
• There is a public interest in the freedom of expression itself.
• In cases involving children, journalists must demonstrate an exceptional public interest to over-ride the normally paramount interests of the child.

Question 15

What does NUJ stand for?

Answer 15

National Union of Journalists