MASS MEDIA ETHICS

Prepared by:
Prof. Jessa May L. Espinola
 CODE OF ETHICS

Every field and profession

has established codes of
conduct.
It governs the practice of a
particular profession.
Theses codes provide
ethical standards ----
including mass media.
 FUNCTIONS OF CODE OF ETHICS

INSPIRATION.
Code of ethics serves as an
inspiration for positive GUIDANCE.
stimulus for ethical Codes help someone
conduct. determine a course of
action through moral
Codes also serve to inspire judgment.
confidence in the
interlocutor.
 JOURNALISTS CODE OF ETHICS
by: Society of Professional Journalists

Is a statement of abiding
principles supported by
explanations and position It is not a set of rules,
papers that address rather a guide that
changing journalistic encourages all who
practices. engage in journalism to
take responsibility for the
information they provide,
regardless of medium.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS
CODE OF ETHICS (1988)
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

was drafted by the

Philippines Press Institute
(PPI).
Discussed and finalized in a
multilateral workshop
conference held during the
National Press Week of
1988.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

Adopted by other media

organizations.
Translated into Filipino by
the Bukluran ng mga
Mamamahayag sa Sariling
Wika (BUKLURAN)
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

CONFERENCE ATTENDEES:
PPI Representatives
Kapisanan ng mga
National Press Club
Manggagawa sa Media sa
Philippine Movement for Pilipinas
Press Freedom (PMPF)
Press Foundation of Asia
National Union of
Photojournalists Guild of
Journalists of the
the Philippines
Philippines
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

I. I shall scrupulously report

and interpret the news,
taking care not to suppress
essential facts nor to distort
the truth by omission or
improper emphasis. I
recognize the duty to air the
other side and to correct
substantive errors promptly.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

II. I shall not violate

confidential information on
material given me in the
exercise of my calling.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

III. I shall resort only to fair

and honest methods in my
effort to obtain news,
photographs and/or
documents, and shall
properly identify myself as a
representative of the press
when obtaining any personal
interview intended for
publication.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

IV. I shall refrain from

writing reports which will
adversely affect a private
reputation unless the public
interest justifies it. At the
same time, I shall fight
vigorously for public access
to information, as provided
for in the Constitution.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

V. I shall not let personal

motives or interests influence
me in the performance of my
duties; nor shall I accept or
offer any present, gift or
other consideration of a
nature which may cast doubt
on my personal integrity.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

VI. I shall not commit any act of

plagiarism.

PLAGIARISM
the practice of taking someone
elses work or ideas and passing
them off as ones own.

www.plagiarism.org
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

VII. I shall not in any manner

ridicule, cast aspersions on, or
degrade any person by
reason of sex, creed, religious
belief, political conviction,
cultural and ethnic origin.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

VIII. I shall presume persons

accused of crime of being
innocent until proven
otherwise. I shall exercise
caution in publishing names of
minors and women involved in
criminal cases so that they may
not unjustly lose their standing
on society.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

IX. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow

journalist.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

X. I shall accept only as tasks

as are compatible with the
integrity and dignity of my
profession, invoking the
conscience clause when
duties imposed on me
conflict with the voice of my
conscience.
PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS CODE OF
ETHICS (1988)

XI. I shall conduct myself in

public or while performing my
duties as a journalist in such
manner as to maintain the
dignity of my profession.
When in doubt, decency
should be my watchdog.
SEVERAL KEY
AREAS OF
CONCERN
Source:
Aquino. Atty. David Robert., 2016, Mass Media Law
and Ethics, Central Book Supply Inc.

1 FACTUAL REPORTING
scrupulously report and
interpret the news, taking
care not to suppress
essential facts nor to distort
the truth by omission or
improper emphasis
Pg. 234
Journalists Code states that:
a. Irresponsible
b. Indulging in pure
speculation or gossip
c. Failure to present the other
side
ARE EQUALLY REPREHENSIBLE.

2 CONFIDENTIALITY
A journalist:
A. is duty-bound to protect
and safeguard confidential
information on material
given in the exercise of
ones calling.
Pg. 235
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Is relating to any subject matter
and be stored in any form (whether
hard copy, electronic or even
stored in peoples minds).
EXAMPLES:
Medical results/records
New product design
Marketing strategy
Software code/password
 2 CONFIDENTIALITY
A journalist:
B. has a right to keep his
sources confidential: that he
cannot be compelled by the
courts to disclose them, as
provided by R.A. 53, unless
the SECURITY OF THE STATE
demands such revelation.
NATIONAL SECURITY
is relating to the responsibility
of the government to protect
the state and its citizens
against all kind of national
crises through a variety of
political power, diplomacy,
economic power, military
might, etc.
 2 CONFIDENTIALITY

A journalist:
C. Cannot invoke such right
as a shield against liability for
printing stories that are
untrue and derogatory of the
courts, or others.
 2 CONFIDENTIALITY
When called to account for
publications denounced as
inaccurate and misleading,
the journalist has the
following options to:
DEMONSTRATE their
truthfulness or accuracy
even if in the process he
disclose his sources.
REFUSE, on the ground that
to do so would require such
disclosure. He must be
ready to accept the
consequences of publishing
untruthful or misleading
stories the truth and
accuracy of which he is
unwilling or made no bona
fide effort to prove.
 MAJORITY FAILED TO CONSIDER
THIS:
The sanctity of a newsmans
source of information is not
only intended to protect a
newsman but also the
source of his information.

The source may have an

independent right to the
protection of his anonymity
in the exercise of freedom
of speech.
 3 HONESTY

A journalist:
A. is expected to only resort
to fair and honest methods to
obtain news, photographs or
documents.