Introduction
Professional Practice
Personal Behavior
Conflict of Interest
Plagiarism
MEAA Journalists' Code of Ethics
The Age Code of Conduct is an important statement about how we behave in our
professional lives - about how we relate to newsmakers, sources, contacts, colleagues and
the public. It gives guidance as to the high ethical standards expected of The Age.
The overriding principles are fairness, integrity, openness, responsibility and a
commitment to accuracy and truth. Sustaining the highest editorial standards is essential
to us retaining the trust of the community, and the freedoms and responsibilities afforded
to us by the community.
The code is issued by the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Age, and
applies to all editorial employees. It seeks to uphold the principles of merit,
responsible management and professional competence and efficiency within the company.
Staff unsure of appropriate action to take in a particular situation should consult with
colleagues, senior editors or the Editor.
Our code does not conflict with the Code of Ethics for journalists issued by the Media,
Entertainment and Arts Alliance (attached to this document), and does not remove any
rights our employees have under other agreements or laws.
1. Staff should seek to act always in the best interests of the public and the
maintenance of good faith with the community we serve, rather than for the benefit of
sectional interests.
2. The public interest includes investigating and exposing crime, serious misdemeanour
and seriously anti-social conduct, and investigating and exposing hypocrisy, falsehoods or
double standards of behavior by public figures or institutions. It also includes
protecting public health and safety.
3. Staff should seek to present only fair, balanced and accurate material.
4. Direct quotations should not be changed to alter their context or meaning.
5. Where a significant inaccuracy or distortion has been published, The Age
should publish a correction or clarification promptly.
6. Photographs should be a true representation of events. Photographs should be used in
context, captions should be fair and accurate, and digitally enhanced images and
illustrations must be clearly labelled.
7. Where they relate to The Age, judgments by the Australian Press Council and
other such bodies, and the outcome of defamation actions, should be reported promptly.
8. Editorial material should distinguish for the reader between that which is comment,
that which is verified fact and that which is speculation.
9. All commentary and analysis should meet the same standards of factual accuracy as
news reports.
10. Sources promised confidentiality must be protected at all costs. However, where
possible, the sources of information should be identified as specifically as possible.
11. Only fair and honest means should be used to obtain material. Misrepresentation and
the use of concealed equipment or surveillance devices should be avoided. The use of
deceptive methods or subterfuge may be condoned only where the Editor is convinced that
the potential story is of vital public interest and there is no other way of obtaining the
story.
In such cases, the journalist has the right to decline an assignment. If the journalist
accepts the assignment, the nature of deceptive methods and the reasons for their use must
be published with the story. Journalists deployed in this manner will be indemnified by The
Age.
12. People's privacy should be respected and intrusions on privacy should be published
only if there is a public interest.
13. Caution should be exercised about reporting and publishing identifying details,
such as street names and numbers, that may enable others to intrude on the privacy or
safety of people who have become the subject of media coverage.
14. People should be treated with sensitivity during periods of grief and trauma and
wherever possible, be approached through an intermediary.
15. Care should be taken when producing and publishing material on the anniversary of
traumatic events or crimes not to cause undue distress to the victims or their families.
16. Photographs of victims or grieving people should not be published unless due
consideration has been given to issues of sensitivity and privacy. Any restrictions placed
on the use of photographs supplied by family or friends should be honored.
17. Gratuitous references to the state of a victim's body or body parts should not be
published.
18. The Age will not publish individual cases of suicide, unless issues of
public safety or the wider public interest justify it. Care should be taken when reporting
methods of suicide and, wherever possible, public information on where to gain help must
accompany such reports.
19. Extortion threats should not be published, unless issues of public safety or the
wider public interest justify it.
20. The Age will not publish details of the manufacture or use of firearms or
other weapons, or of illegal drugs, unless issues of public safety or the wider public
interest justify them.
21. Special care should be taken when dealing with children (under the age of 16). The
Editor must be informed when children have been photographed or interviewed without
parental consent.
22. The Age does not condone chequebook journalism. It will disclose any
instance when it has paid for information. Payment for information should be avoided,
unless an appropriate senior editor believes there is a strong public interest and there
is no alternative to payment. In cases where payment is deemed by the Editor to be in the
public interest, the fact of payment should be published.
23. The Age does not condone staff breaking laws in the course of performing
their duties. Nor is the paper liable for any such action.
1. The Age should ensure that staff have equal opportunity to develop their
skills.
2. The company is obliged to provide a healthy and safe working environment. Staff are
to have due regard to the health and safety of work colleagues, and observe occupational
health and safety laws.
3. The Age values its reputation for independence and integrity. Staff are
reminded that some activities outside work hours could have an impact on the standing of The
Age.
4. Alcohol should not be consumed while at the work station. Staff members should not
be under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol while at work.
5. No one should be harassed or discriminated against on the grounds of gender, sexual
preference, race, color, nationality, religious belief, impairment, age, height, weight,
marital status, pregnancy or being childless or having children. The Age supports
and adheres to state and Commonwealth equal opportunity and anti-discrimination
legislation.
6. Staff should immediately inform the Editor if, as an employee of The Age,
they intend to:
- give evidence to any court.
- chair public forums or seminars arranged by
professional conference organisers.
- take part in interviews or debates for other media
organisations.
- undertake any outside employment likely to conflict with their professional duties at The
Age.
7. Managers with access to personal information relating to other members of staff are
required to treat such information as confidential, and not disclose it to anyone except
in the course of discharging formal responsibilities.
It is in the best interests of The Age and staff of The Age that real
and perceived conflicts of interests be eliminated. Staff should be alert to real and
perceived conflict of interest and take all reasonable steps to ameliorate same.
1. Staff should not use their position to obtain private benefit for themselves or
others.
2. Staff should not be influenced by family or other personal relationships in
fulfilling their editorial responsibilities.
3. Staff should neither buy nor sell shares in John Fairfax Holdings Ltd, or any other
company, at a time when they possess information that could, if publicly disclosed, affect
the market value of such shares.
4. Staff should be alert to conflicts of interest that may arise and declare to the
Editor or an appropriate senior editor any real or perceived conflict of interest that
arises or is foreseen.
5. Staff involved in a story who believe they have an interest that could be seen to
influence their views on the issue at hand should acknowledge that interest during
preparation and at publication of the story.
6. Staff have the right to join any community or political organisation or activity but
should be aware that such participation may create, or be seen to create, a conflict of
interest and reflect on the credibility of The Age and the staff member. However,
staff participation in protests and demonstrations, or in decision-making or fund-raising
capacities in organisations that do or could generate news, should be declared where their
involvement could be an issue.
7. Staff in doubt as to whether a conflict exists should consult an appropriate senior
editor.
8. The Age and its staff will not allow any payment, gift or other advantage
to undermine accuracy, fairness or independence. Any attempts to induce favored editorial
treatment through the offer of gifts or favors should be reported to the Editor. Where
relevant, The Age will disclose these payments, gifts or other advantages.
9. Only the Editor and appropriate senior editors can accept offers of free or
subsidised travel, accommodation or other benefits on behalf of The Age.
Acceptance of any such offer is conditional on The Age being free to assign and
report or not report any resulting story as it sees fit. Any such story so generated
should carry an acknowledgment of the free or subsidised benefits.
10. The Age will ensure that material generated as a condition of the
placement of an advertisement or advertisements should be labelled as
"advertisement" or "advertising feature". Staff should not be
influenced by commercial considerations in the preparation of material.
11. The Age will ensure that stories that specifically relate to an advertiser should,
where possible, not be published on the same page as that advertiser's advertisement.
1. Staff must not reproduce other people's material without attribution.
2. The source of published material obtained from another organisation should be
acknowledged.
3. Bylines should be carried only on material that is substantially the work of the
bylined journalist.
October 1998
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance: Australian Journalists
Association Code of Ethics
Respect for the truth and the public's right to information are fundamental principles
of journalism. Journalists describe society to itself. They convey information, ideas and
opinions. They search, disclose, record, question, entertain, comment and remember. They
inform citizens and animate democracy. They give a practical form to freedom of
expression. They scrutinise power, but also exercise it, and should be responsible and
accountable.
Journalists commit themselves to:
- Honesty
- Fairness
- Independence, and
- Respect for the rights of others
Journalists will educate themselves about ethics and apply the following standards:
1. Report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness, and disclosure of
all essential facts. Do not suppress relevant available facts, or give distorting
emphasis. Do your utmost to give a fair opportunity for reply.
2. Do not place unnecessary emphasis on personal characteristics including race,
ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, family relationships, religious
belief or physical or intellectual disability.
3. Aim to attribute information to its source. Where a source seeks anonymity, do not
agree without first considering the source's motives and any alternative attributable
source. Where confidences are accepted, respect them in all circumstances.
4. Do not allow personal interest, or any belief, commitment, payment, gift or benefit
to undermine your accuracy, fairness or independence.
5. Disclose conflicts of interest that affect, or could be seen to affect, the
accuracy, fairness or independence of your journalism. Do not improperly use a
journalistic position for personal gain.
6. Do not allow advertising or other commercial considerations to undermine accuracy,
fairness or independence.
7. Do your utmost to ensure disclosure of any direct or indirect payment made for
interviews, pictures, information or stories.
8. Use fair, responsible and honest means to obtain material. Identify your self and
your employer before obtaining any interview for publication or broadcast. Never exploit a
person's vulnerability or ignorance of media practice.
9. Present pictures and sound which are true and accurate. Any manipulation likely to
mislead should be disclosed.
10. Do not plagiarise.
11. Respect private grief and personal privacy. Journalists have the right to resist
compulsion to intrude.
12. Do your utmost to achieve fair correction of errors.
Guidance Clause
Basic values often need interpretation and sometimes come into conflict.
Ethical journalism requires conscientious decision-making in context.
Only substantial advancement of the public interest or risk of substantial harm to
people allows any standard to be overridden.
This
site abides by the Principles of the Australian Press Council