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Article 19 (i) (a) of the Constitution does guarantee freedom of expression for every
citizen which includes
3| ahe right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public, or the right to impart
information and ideas
3| ahe right to receive information and ideas from others through any lawful medium
3| ahe freedom of the press rests on the same fundamental rights, and implies the rights
to print, publish, comment and criticize without any interference from the State or any
public authority
3| ½t includes the right not to publish or comment as well.

Public interest has to be safeguarded; so have private interest, and the right to privacy.
Public interest is safeguarded by Article 19 (2) which lays down reasonable limitations to
the freedom of expression in matters affecting:
| Sovereignty and integrity of the State
| Security of the State
| Friendly relations with foreign countries
| Public order
| Decency or morality
| Contempt of court
| Defamation
| ½ncitement to an offence

 


 
Code of ethics for journalists began to be formulated since the early 1920s. aoday, more
than 60 countries around the world have drawn up and are enforcing such codes. ahey
vary in form and scope from one country or region to another.Several states enforce such
codes which speak of such high-minded principles as objectivity, impartiality,
truthfulness and freedom of information.


  

   

  

 
  
| Safeguarding freedom of information
| Freedom of access to information sources
| Objectivity, accuracy, truthfulness or the non-misrepresentation of facts
| Responsibility to the public, and its rights and interests and in relation to national,
racial and religious communities, the Nation, the State and the maintenance of peace
| ahe obligation to refrain from calumny, unfounded accusations, slander, violations of
privacy
| ½ntegrity and independence
| ahe right of reply and of correction
| Respect of professional confidentiality
| Consideration for the cultural, social or ethnic codes of individual countries
 
  


   
Code of conduct for newspapers, news agencies and journalists in accordance with high
professional standards
| 2 
  : - ahe fundamental objective of journalism, declares the
Guide, is to serve the people with news, views, comments and information on matters of
public interest, in a fair, accurate, unbiased, graceless, misleading or distorted material
should be avoided. All sides of the core issue or subject should be reported.Journalists
should judge no one unheard

| 
 

  :-Newspapers should not publish anything which
is per se defamatory or libelous against any individual or organization unless after due
care and checking they have sufficient reason to believe that it is true and its publication
will be for public good. Pre-publication verification of reports necessary

[| -½nstruction or invasion on the privacy of individuals is not permissible unless

outweighed by genuine overriding public interest

r| è 
 
 :-Victims of Sex Crimes ± caution against publication of Names or
pictures. While reporting crimes involving rape or molestation of women, or sexual
assault on children, or raising doubts and questions touching the chastity, personal
character and privacy or women, the names, photographs, of the victims or other
particular leading to their identity should not be published. While such publication
serves no legitimate public purpose, it may bring social opprobrium to the victims and
social embarrassment to their relations, family, friends, community, religious order or
the institution to which they belong

å| ÿ     
        

:-ahey should not name or
identify the family or relatives or associates of a person convicted or accused of a
crime, when they are totally innocent and a reference to them is not relevant to the
matter reported.Publication of the photographs of the dead bodies of the victims of
accidents or natural calamity may be avoided.

u| 
 
-When any factual error or mistake is detected or confirmed, the
newspaper should publish the correction promptly with due prominence and with
apology or expression of regret in a case of serious lapse

ü| 
!  "
 
:-Newspapers should not pass on or elevate
conjecture, speculation of comment as a statement of fact. All these categories should
be distinctly stated

| 
   
 
  #  $News, views or comments relating to
communal or religious disputes\clashes should be published after proper verification of
facts and presented with due caution and restraint in a manner which is conducive to the
reaction of an atmosphere congenial to communal harmony, amity and
peace.Sensational, provocative and alarming headlines are to be avoided.Headlines
must justify the matter printed under them.Acts of communal violence or vandalism
should be reported in a manner as may not undermine the people¶s confidence in the
law and order machinery of the state.Giving community ± wise figures of the victims of
communal riot, or writing to inflame passions, aggravate the tensions, or accentuate the
 strained relations between the communities\religious groups concerned, or which has a
potential to exacerbate the trouble, should be avoided

á|  -Using or passing off the writings or ideas of another as one¶s own, without
crediting the source, is an offence against the ethics of journalism

%|è 

  &     
 
 
  
$Journalists should not tape-record
anyone¶s conversation without that person¶s knowledge or consent, except where the
recording is necessary to protect the journalist in a legal action, or for other compelling
good reason

|Ñ  

   
$Newspapers/ Journalists should not publish
anything which is obscene, vulgar or offensive to public good taste. Newspapers should
not publish an advertisement containing which is unlawful or illegal, or is contrary to
good taste or to journalistic ethics or proprieties

|
 
  
   
$Newspapers/Journalists should avoid presenting
acts of violence, armed robberies and terrorist activities in a manner that glorifies their
acts or death in the eyes of the public.Caste, Religion and Community disclosures to be
generally avoided. Confidence to be Respected


  
'  
½t covers a wide range of practices
†| ying
†| cisrepresenting yourself
†| Using a hidden tape recorder or camera
†| Stealing documents





!
   
 
 
| ½ssue of profound public importance
--- of vital public interest, revealing system failure at high levels
--- a preventive measure against profound harm to individuals
†| All alternatives exhausted
†| Full disclosure of deception and reason for it



&   
| Friendship
| Payola
| Freebies
| Checkbook Journalism
| Participation in News


$Greatest obstacle to the flow of information. Whether friendship causes more

stories to be reported or killed(½t sets up a powerful conflict of interest.Reporters get too close
to their sources


$News organisations frown upon reporters doing promotional work for people they
cover

  $½t always comes with a price.Can reporters remain objective?Do reporters write
stories they would otherwise not write?Does the public perceive the reporter who has
accepted or is suspected of accepting freebies as objective?

 


  $Does the audience believe your story if you have paid your source
for it?Should you always report that you have a paid source?½s it ethical to pay a source for an
exclusive story?ahe terrible consequence or check book journalism is that even legitimate
news professionals may be cut off from sources who want and expect pay. Some sources
have begun asking for a fee even for good news


  ÿ  

&  

:-ahe head-on collision of the right to know and the right to privacy will
confront you everyday of your reporting lives.ahe most obvious and talked-about issue
dealing with the right to privacy is naming crime victims, especially rape and abuse victims.

)

  



 $aaking material verbatim from other publications, wire services, news releases
etc.Using the work of fellow reporters.Using old stories over again

* :-³the systematic differential treatment of one candidate, one party, or one side of an
issue over an extended period of time. Bias is the failure to treat all voices in the marketplace
of ideas equally´ ³a pattern of constant favoritism ³
Bias has four different forms: partisanship, unwitting bias, ideology and propaganda
(ccQuail, 1992).
| Partisanship usually is identified by its form such as editorial column, paid
advertisement, forum, or letter. Partisanship often is seen in
reporting an open campaign.
| Unwitting bias refers to unintentional biased choice of topics or news angles.
| ½deology usually is hidden in texts like the tone of reporting the news.
| Propaganda often is seen in the form of objective news such as public relations
sources.
ahese four forms of bias can also be classified as ³open´ bias and ³hidden´ bias.

Ñ ! $ahe view that news reporting should seek impartiality and evenhandedness in
its reporting(µDue impartiality¶ does not mean just getting two sides to a story nor does it
require absolute neutrality on every issue.½t is a practice aimed at removing the distorting
effect of prejudice from whatever source, ensuring 
| Objectivity was divided into six elements:
1³- balance and even-handedness in presenting different sides of an issue;
2- accuracy and realism of reporting;
3- presentation of all main relevant points;
4- separation of acts from opinion, but treating opinion as relevant;
5- minimizing the influence of the writer¶s own attitude, opinion or involvement;
6- avoiding slant, rancour or devious purpose´
a 
 
| Be free of obligations to anyone or to any interest except the truth.
| Be fair.
 | Remember good taste. Some actions and stories may be ethical, but they may be in bad
taste

*

  


| Current broadcasting policy is based on the A½R Code of 1970.
| Criticisms of friendly countries
[| Attack on religion or communities
r| Anything obscene or defamatory
å| ½ncitement to violence or anything against the maintenance of law and order
u| Anything amounting to contempt of court
ü| Aspersions against the integrity of the President, Governors, and Judiciary
| Attack on a political party by name
á| Hostile criticism of any State or the Centre or
%|Anything showing disrespect to the Constitution or advocating change in the Constitution
by violence but advocating change in a constitutional way should not be debarred

2
   


 
| ½n recent years the quantity of false, misleading and offensive advertising has resulted in
consumers having an increasing disbelief in advertising, and a growing resentment of it.
| cisleading, false advertising also constitutes unfair competition.

a 2
   +


 
&
,2+&,áå 





+  $
è 
 2
   
| ½t is a commitment to honest advertising and to fair competition in the market-place.
| As the Code becomes increasingly accepted and observed pro-actively, three things will
begin to happen.
( Fewer false, misleading claims
( Fewer unfair advertisements
[( ½ncreasing respectability

Ñ !  
2+&
| ao ensure truthfulness and honesty of representation and claims
| ao safeguard against misleading ads
[| ao ensure ads are not offensive
r| ao safeguard against indiscriminate use of ads to promote products hazardous to society
å| ao ensure fairness in competition
u| ½t is an autonomous body which strives towards maintaining and enhancing public
confidence in advertising
ü| ½t propagates codes and a sense of responsibility for its observance
| ½t encourages public to complain against ads that are disturbing and strives to achieve
compliance

'2 
| Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity
| ahe multimedia wing of the govt ± ad agency for all ministries
[| Autonomous advertising body
r| Provides publicity services, advertising services, cedia planning and visualisation
å| Determines the rates to be charged





2
     &

| All advertising must be truthful (deception, claim, comparison) must be ascertainable
| Ad claims to be supported by research with source
[| Should not contain any reference to specific persons or firms without prior permission
r| Should not distort facts or mislead lust
å| Hyperboles allowed but should not mislead ± only in humor
u| No vulgar representation
ü| No promotion of crime / violence
| No propagation of ³ideas´ to children
á| Cannot affect international relations
%|Cannot refer to caste/creed/race

  #


 

| Section 293 ± ½PC 1860 ± Prohibits transmission of obscene matter
| ½ndian Post office Act 1898 ± Prohibits transmission of obscene matter
[| Customs Act ± Cannot have import of obscene matter
r| >oung persons harmful publication Act 1956
å| Prohibits propagation of publication that can incite violence to youth under 20
u| ahe indecent representation of women prohibition Act 1986

 +
 
When Volvo wanted to advertise the strength of its car roofs, it ran an ad showing a pickup
truck with giant tires driving over the top of a row of cars. All the car roofs collapsed except
for the Volvo¶s. When the ad was challenged, Volvo revealed that its car¶s rood had been
reinforced by unseen braces. ahe company apologized for ht ethical lapse and stopped
running the ad; the ad agency resigned the account.

è


 
| Public Relations professionals, have the burden of making ethical decisions that take into
consideration
| ahe public interest
[| ahe employer¶s self interests
r| ahe standards of the public relations profession
å| aheir personal values

è+2
| ahe Public Relation Society of America has a fairly comprehensive code of ethics for its
members.
| ½ts six core values are as follows:
| Advocacy: Serving the public interest by acting as responsible advocates for clients or
employers
| Honesty: Adhering to the highest standards of accuracy and truth in advancing the
interests of clients and employers
[| Yxpertise: Advancing the profession through continued professional development,
research, and education
r| ½ndependence: Providing objective counsel and being accountable for individual actions
å| oyalty: Being faithful to clients and employers, but also honoring an obligation to serve
the public interest
u| Fairness: Respecting all opinions and supporting the right of free expression.
a 

   
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| Free flow of information: >ou should not give an expensive gift to a journalist as a bribe
so that he or she will write favorable stories.
| avish entertainment and travel junkets for government officials, beyond the limits set by
law, also are improper
[| Competition: An employee of an organisation with a public relations firm that is in
competition with other firms for the organization¶s business
r| >ou should not disparage your competition or spread malicious rumors about them to
recruit business or to hire their employees

' 
 
 

$>ou should not deceive the public by employing people to pose
as ³volunteers´ at a public meeting. ahis also applies to booking ³spokes person´ on talk
shows without disclosing that they are being paid by an organisation or special interest for
their appearance.

+ 
 

 $½f you change jobs, you should not use confidential information
form your previous employer to benefit the competitive advantage of your new employer


 
   $Avoid real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interests among clients,
employers and the public(A firm should not be doing public relations for two competing fast
food restaurant chains.

    
 
$Professionals should work constantly to strengthen the public¶s
trust in the profession. >ou should not say a product is safe when it is not safe

  &

 
| Will ½ lie for my employer?
| Will ½ deceive to gain information about another agency¶s clients?
| Will ½ cover up a hazardous condition?
| Will ½ issue a news release presenting only half the truth?
| Will ½ use internet to post messages anonymously promoting a client¶s product?
| Will ½ quit my job rather than cooperate in a questionable activity?


 
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| News material should appear as a result of the news judgment of journalist and editors,
not as a result to any payment in cash or in kind or any other inducements
| caterial involving payment should be clearly identified as advertising, sponsorship, or
promotion
[| No journalist or media representative should ever suggest that news coverage will appear
for any reason other than its merit
r| When samples or loans of products or services are necessary for a journalist to render an
objective opinion, the length of time should be agreed in advance and loaned products
should be returned
å| ahe media should institute written policies regarding the receipt of gifts or discounted
products and services and journalists should be required to sign the policy