Updated journalists’ code of ethics released

Τhe Cyprus Committee for Media Ethics (CME) on Thursday released its updated journalists’ code of conduct.

It is the first time the code was updated since the establishment of the CME back in in 1997.

The code was approved by the members of the CME, namely the Cyprus Union of Journalists, the Cyprus Publishers Association, the owners of radio and television stations, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and the Cyprus Association of Online Publishers.

“The amendments were deemed necessary to allow for the code to be consistent with international developments in journalism,” a statement released along with the updated code said

“At the same time, amendments related to journalistic content were strengthened, given the global debate over fake news and disinformation.

“Equally, the code was strengthened with provisions on key social issues of our time, such as discrimination, protection of children, gender, health, sex related crime and suicide,” the statement said.

Included in the code’s updated general provisions was the CMA’s stance on editorial independence, which the committee vowed to protect.

Moreover, it called for journalists to strive for the truth by providing people with objective, comprehensive and reliable information.

“Journalists have the duty to defend their independence and not to allow any intervention to their work,” another key provision of the code said.

“Consequently, intervention in the work of media officers, intimidation or attempted intimidation through statements or in any other means, is unacceptable.”

The updated code also underlined the importance of accuracy and warned about the dangers of disinformation and fake news.

“Any involvement of media or journalists in spreading fake news or misinformation is unacceptable,” an entry on the code stated.

Media and journalists are also bound by the updated code to provide people with the right to reply and to respect their privacy.

A new entry on the code focused on gender-based discrimination.

“Media should avoid any direct or indirect references and vocabulary which constitute gender-based, gender identity or sexual orientation discrimination,” it said.

“Any references reproducing stereotypes and anachronistic perceptions of sex, or targeting, insulting and reducing people on the basis of sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, are to be condemned.”

Furthermore, the journalists’ right to confidentiality regarding their sources was also underlined.

“Journalists should uphold the confidentiality of their sources. They are under no obligation to reveal the sources of information, which, however, does not undermine their obligation to uphold all the provisions of the current code,” the provision said.

Special attention was also placed on minors, specifying that journalists can interview or take pictures of them only after careful consideration of whether by so doing they will not harm their safety and wellbeing.

Another important topic covered by the code related to discrimination, with a specific point calling on journalists “to avoid any direct or otherwise reference or act against an individual or group of individuals which suggests pejorative discrimination or bias on the basis of race, skin colour, language, religion and nationality.”

Other subjects covered by the code were personal data handling, grief, hate speech, crimes of sexual nature and the presumption of innocence.