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FALSE NEWS REPORTING IS A
GRAVE CRIME. JOURNALISTS SHOULD RESPECT AND ABIDE BY THE CODE OF ETHICS
AND JOURNALISTIC CODES LAID DOWN, LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
Noor Nizam. Sri Lanka Peace
Activist, Communication Science and Multimedia University Teaching Personnel
and Freelance Journalist. Canada.
The code of ethics for journalism is very serene.
"Lakbima News Sunday 25th., May 2008.
JIHADISTS ON THE WARPATH
EASTERN COMMUNAL CLASHES THEIR WORK
TMVP IN TIT-FOR-TAT
By Ranga Jayasuriya
Armed Islamic jihadist elements are on the rise in the East and
were behind the recent communal clashes in the province, military sources
claim."
The above news item published is FULL OF FALSE AND IMPROPER news reporting.
News verification at the very highest level and the best of informed
sources has revealed that there is NO TRUTH to this news item. It is
only a fabrication and written in the imagination of the writer/journalist
– Ranga Jayasuriya. Military sources are shocked that they have
been dragged into been tarnished both locally and internationally by
petty journalists who want to disgrace the security forces about their
sincerity and loyalty to their country and to the oath of confidentiality
they have made in regards to the highly honourable duty of defending
the Nation. This type of journalism has already brought much International
disrepute to the Government.The question is – will the Sri Lankan
Military sources ever make such rash statements or “claim”
as the writer has stated, that could end up in creating more violence
in the East when they have done the best service to stop the violence
that has been erupted by mischievous elements.
Mr. Ranga Jayasuriya has therefore violated Journalistic Ethics and
Codes laid done to press writers and journalists, both in Sri Lanka
and Internationally. Some of the violations made by Mr. Ranga Jayasuriya
are quoted below for the benefit of the readers/public/authorities:
VIOLATED ETHIC CODES & JOURAISTIC CODES.
A. Code of Ethics for Sri Lankan Journalists – Adopted by the
Sri Lankan Press Council 14t. Oct. 1981.
Section 1. b.
Refrain from reporting or causing to be print or published any matter
which he knows or has reason to believe to be false or inaccurate.
Section 7.
A journalist shall not present any matter in a manner designed to promote
sadism, violene or salacity. Refer: http://www.presswise.org.uk/display_page.php?id=260
B. Code of Professional Practice (Code of Ethics) of The Editors Guild
of Sri Lanka and Free Media Movement Adopted by the Sri Lanka Press
Institute
Accurate Reporting.
2.3 Editors and their staff, including external contributors, shall
not publish material in such a way as to endorse any matter which they
know or have reason to believe to be false or inaccurate.
C.
Violation of International Journalistic code of ethics
Society of Professional Journalists USA .
Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists USA
believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and
the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further
those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account
of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties
strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional
integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members
of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this
code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
D.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALIST.
IFJ Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists Brussels,
BELGIUM – Sri Lanka member - Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association.
"This international Declaration is proclaimed as a standard of
professional conduct for journalists engaged in gathering, transmitting,
disseminating and commenting on news and information in describing events.
1. Respect for truth and for the right of the public to truth is the
first duty of the journalist.
2. In pursuance of this duty, the journalist shall at all times defend
the principles of freedom in the honest collection and publication of
news, and of the right of fair comment and criticism.
3. The journalist shall report only in accordance with facts of which
he/she knows the origin. The journalist shall not suppress essential
information or falsify documents.
4. The journalist shall use only fair methods to obtain news, photographs
and documents.
5. The journalist shall do the utmost to rectify any published information
which is found to be harmfully inaccurate.
6. The journalist shall observe professional secrecy regarding the
source of information obtained in confidence.
7. The journalist shall be aware of the danger of discrimination being
furthered by the media, and shall do the utmost to avoid facilitating
such discrimination based on, among other things, race, sex, sexual
orientation, language, religion, political or other opinions, and national
or social origins.
8. The journalist shall regard as grave professional offences the following:
* plagiarism;
* malicious misrepresentation;
* calumny, slander, libel, unfounded accusations;
* acceptance of a bribe in any form in consideration of either publication
or
suppression.
9. Journalists worthy of the name shall deem it their duty to observe
faithfully the principles stated above. Within the general law of each
country the journalist shall recognise in professional matters the jurisdiction
of colleagues only, to the exclusion of every kind of interference by
governments or others."
(Adopted by 1954 World Congress of the IFJ. Amended by the 1986 World
Congress.)
[The International Federation of Journalists representing more than
450,000 journalists in over 100 countries, believes that professional
journalists, organised in free and independent trade unions, play a
key role in the creation and maintenance of a democratic media culture.
International Federation of Journalists.]
The Press council of Sri Lanka and the government authorities should
take immediate action to hold an inquiry into this false news article.
The Muslim in the East have a right to call for this inquiry.
Noor Nizam.
Sri Lanka Peace Activist, Communication Science and Multimedia University
Teaching Personnel and Freelance Journalist.
Canada.
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