Codes of Conduct

The National Union of Journalists has a code of conduct that all of its members are expected to abide by. Most organisations will expect their journalists to be part of this union although it is no longer compulsory, due to a change in trade union laws. If a Journalist breaks the N.U.J code of conduct they can be removed from the union, and in most cases, sacked from their place of employment.

Here is the code in full:

Members of the National Union of Journalists are expected to abide by the following professional principles:

1. At all times upholds and defends the principle of media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed

2.Strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair

3. Does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies

4.Differentiates between fact and opinion

5. Obtains material by honest, straightforward and open means, with the exception of investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means

6.Does nothing to intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest

7. Protects the identity of sources who supply information in confidence
and material gathered in the course of her/his work

8.Resists, threats or any other inducements to influence, distort or suppress information

9. Takes no unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of her/his duties before the information is public knowledge

10. Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.

11.Does not by way of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial product or service save for the promotion of her/his own work or of the medium by which she/he is employed

12. Avoids plagiarism.

Employees of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation group are not contractually allowed to be a part of the N.U.J. Instead; The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and The News of the World journalists are governed by the Press Complaints Commission.

I.T.V and Sky follow guidelines set by OFCOM, the communications regulator. OFCOM deal with taste and decency on the TV, they have been in the news a lot over the past two years, thanks to competition scandals, and 'Sachsgate.' I found this link on their official website particularly amusing:

Harrassed by Journalists?

The BBC supports the N.U.J code of conduct but also have their own set of editorial guidelines, which can be found here.