Media Law and Ethics: Codes of Practice

Codes of Practice are the very rules which keep us, as journalists, in check and should be followed in order to protect both ourselves and others.

There are four main codes:

-NUJ Code of Conduct. This is outlined in the 12 point guide NUJ Code.

- PCC: newspapers and magazines. This covers the areas below:

Accuracy

Opportunity to reply

Privacy

Harassment

Intrusion into grief or shock

Children

Children in sex cases

Hospitals

Reporting crime

Victims of sexual assault

Discrimination

Financial Journalism

Confidential sources

Witness payments in criminal trials

Payments to criminals

Sometimes there are exceptions to the way in which each area is dealt with when public interest is cited

- Ofcom: broadcasters. There are lengthily guidelines for broadcasting on Ofcom's website under "Broadcast Guidelines"

- BBC: for their staff and licence payers. There is an extensive amount of information under the BBC's Editorial Guidelines.

Why do codes matter?

- Guide us through ethical issues

- How far we can go to get a story

- Guide us to what practices are legitimate

Key areas the codes aid:

- Ethical behaviour

- Fair treatment

- Respect for privacy

- Accuracy and impartiality

- Protecting vulnerable demographics

Currently in the media this week, Ofcom revoked the licences of four Adult premium-rate phone channels. The channels "Tease Me" have all been suspended as they have been ruled as "no longer fit and proper" - Ofcom said that the various channels' daytime content was 'the equivalent of hardcore pornography'.

Ofcom hopes the removal of the Tease Me channels will act as a warning to other channels of the same genre, and the broadcast regulator is set to meet all Adult licencees to ensure that they are adhering to the regulator's rules. Over the last 18 months the network had breached Ofcom regulations more than 60 times and had repeatedly breached the rules regarding protecting children from inappropriate material.