You are on page 1of 4

Malaysian Press Institute Code of Ethics under Proposed Malaysia Media Council (Revised version by

Inisiatif Wartawan)
Preamble
The fundamental objective of journalism is to serve the public in all its manifestations with news,
views, information and ideas founded on the belief of public enlightenment and civic tolerance. In this
respect, it is also important that the individual is protected from unwarranted suffering from publicity
and violation of privacy. The Malaysian media therefore has the responsibility to further the said ends
and is expected to conduct itself by abiding by norms of universally recognised professionalism. The
media is expected to improve and maintain professional integrity. In doing so, the media subscribes to
the norms of fairness in the communication of news and views with due discernment in view of
national security, universal values and professional objectives. Since professional integrity rests upon
journalistic credibility, it is imperative that the fraternity shares a dedication to ethical behaviour at all
circumstances, founded on voluntary and independent self-regulation.
Rules of reporting
1. The primary responsibility of the media is to report correctly and to respect the public right to fair,
accurate, truthful and timely news
2. The media is to be critical of news sources by way of checking facts and other pieces of information
in ensuring accuracy. Facts are to be checked as carefully as possible even if they have been published
earlier.
3. All reporting shall strictly distinguished from comment. Analysis, commentary and other opinion
pieces shall be labelled and not misrepresent fact or context. As a norm, no personal opinion pieces
shall be reflected in reportage without byline. The reader is to be able to distinguish between statement
of fact and statement of comment.
4. All unconfirmed report shall be accompanied by remarks to the effect to ensure that reportage is not
misleading and misrepresented.
5. The media shall eschew the publication of inaccurate, baseless, misleading or distorted materials.
6. Rumours and unconfirmed sources may be reported but without exaggeration or elaboration; where
such reportage shall be accompanied by remarks to that effect.
7. False and incorrect reportage deemed factual errors are to be corrected. Anyone wishing to rebut a
statement shall be given the opportunity to do so. Corrections and rebuttals shall be published promptly
in appropriate form, in such a way that they will come to the attention of those who received the
original information. A rebuttal does not always call for editorial comment.
Editorial Comment
1. An editorial comment shall be a bold expression of the journalist's own belief and conviction. In so
doing, the journalist shall maintain the public spirit in using newspaper as a public forum.
2. The journalist, in making his conviction, shall ensure that his/her editorial material is clearly and
unambiguously represented as such, not to confuse it with advertising or advertorial material.
3. However, this section does not limit the freedom of expression of journalists who write, under their
full name and in clearly defined items, such as criticism and columns.
Concerns on Privacy
1. The media shall not intrude, or report, or comment upon an individual's privacy, except in the

interest of the public good. However, once a matter becomes a matter of public interest, the right to
privacy no longer exists.
2. The media shall exercise great caution in reporting criminal cases with the assumption that the
accused is innocent until convicted by a court of law. This should include refraining from taking and
publishing or broadcasting visuals of those remanded or charged with an offence. The identity of a
person in remand shall not be revealed in any form.
3. In conditions concerning suicide and attempted suicide; as well as crime involving rape, abduction or
sexual assault involving women and children, or outraging the modesty, personal character and privacy
of women, the names, photographs of such victims, or other particulars leading to their identity shall
not be published.
4. The journalist also has to exercise great caution in the reportage of such crimes and abuse out of
consideration for feelings of relatives and other affected individuals.
5. The names of juvenile suspects, as well as their photographs, shall not be published.
Use of visuals and Sound
1. Where applicable, all of the above rules apply to pictures and other visual materials- still and
animated- and sound.
2. Pictures and sound shall be true and accurate. Making a montage, touching up a photograph by
electronic means, or formulating a picture caption shall not be performed in such a way to mislead or
deceive the reader or the viewer. As such, any manipulation thereof shall be disclosed.
Methods of Gathering Information
1. The journalist and the media shall use only ethical methods to obtain data and information for news
reports and opinion pieces.
2. The journalist shall avoid undercover and other surreptitious methods of gathering information
except when conventional methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods
should be explained as part of the story.
3. Tape-recording of anyone's conversation without the person's knowledge or consent is unethical
except where the recording is necessary to protect the journalist in a legal action, or for other
compelling reasons, or for the public good.
4. The media shall show compassion by not using interviews or photographs of those adversely
affected by personal grief or tragedy.
5. The journalist and media organization shall be particularly sensitive when dealing with children and
inexperienced sources or subjects.
Communalism, Religion, Gender and Stereotyping
1. The media must exercise great caution in the publication of news and views impinging on communal
rights, extremism and contrary to the norms of a pluralistic and a multiracial society.
2. News, views and comment relating to communal or religious conflicts, disputes or clashes shall be
published only after proper and rigorous verification of facts and presented with due caution and
restraint in a manner which is conducive to the creation of an atmosphere congenial to communal and
religious harmony, amity and peace. As such, statements shall not be accepted at face value from any
source, including official sources, and where necessary these shall be accompanied in the news reports
by corroboration.
3. In all cases, sensational, provocative and alarming headlines should be avoided.
4. On the other hand, headings containing allegations made in statement shall either identify the source

making it or at least carry quotation marks.


5. The media shall not emphasize race, gender, nationality, occupation, disability, political affiliation or
religious persuasion in the case of the persons concerned if such particulars are not important in the
context or are disparaging.
6. The media must avoid stereotyping by race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, geography, sexual
orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
Sources and Confidentiality
1. The journalist must identify attributable sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much
information as possible on sources liability.
2. If information is received from a confidential source, the confidence should be respected. The
journalist cannot compelled by the Media Council to disclose such source.
3. This rule requiring the media organization not to publish matters disclosed to it in confidence is not
applicable where:
a) consent of the source is subsequently obtained; or
b) the editor clarifies by way of an appropriate footnote that since the publication of certain matters is
in public interest, the information in qusetion is being published although it was made "off the record".
Plagiarism
1. In reporting news and presenting news, the media shall always attribute fairly to the source/s.
2. Using or passing off the writings or ideas of another as one's own, without that of ethics of
journalism.
3. As such, plagiarism of other newspapers, news services, magazines, books, journals and other
printed materials, tapes and other recording instruments as well as digital and online services is
prohibited. Reprints or quotations from previously published material shall give due credit to the
original source.
Accountability and Professional Rules
1. The media shall be accountable to its readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
2. The media shall respect and honour individuals and public figures just as it would other fundamental
personal and human rights.
3. The journalist shall not demand or accept inducements in cash or kind.
4. Assignments from anyone not on editorial staff shall not be accepted.
5. A journalist must avoid any conflicts of interest to serve the interest of readers, viewers and listeners
and the honour of the journalistic profession at all times.
6. The journalist and the media shall not accept an assignment or an invitation, a free trip or any other
benefit taht could bring into question the credibility and integrity of the profession, as this may be seen
to undermine accuracy, fairness and independence. In unavoidable circumstances, disclose in the
report.
7. The media and journalists shall not utilise for personal gain any unpublished news concerning
economic conditions or measures by state authorities at all levels, organizations, companies or private
persons.
8. The media shall explain the ethical process of reporting news and views and invite dialogue with the
public over its professional conduct.
9. The media should perceive complaints and grievances against itself as a way to improve and
maintain high standards of the profession.

10. As such, exposure of the unethical practices of journalists and media organizations must be
acknowledged and followed by prompt correction.
11. The journalist has the duty to protect the profession and the media organization from being
influenced in terms of text or program. It is therefore incumbent upon the media organization and all
other parties not to coerce the journalist to include any editorial material that is not motivated by ethical
journalism.

You might also like