ARTICLE ONE: PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO TRUE INFORMATION
The GJA code of ethics were discussed in our introduction to journalism class. The class was divided into groups for each group to work on some chapters of the code of ethics. My group discussed the chapter one of the GJA code of ethics.
"People's right to true Information" states that it is the duty of every journalist to write and report the truth, bearing in mind his duty to serve the public. The public have the right to unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information as well as express themselves freely through the media.
A journalist should make adequate enquiries and cross-check his facts. The rules are clear in a simple/ layman English the question now is do journalists present the truth as they are supposed to?
This chapter must form a very integral role in the practice of journalism. The contents of this chapter simply tells the journalist that because the general public deserves the right to the truth at all times before he publishes a story there are just five questions he needs to ask himself based on the Chapter 1 of the GJA code of ethics:
Is it true?, Is it a fact?, Is it accurate?, Is it an biased?, Is it comprehensive?
When the answers to the aforementioned questions are unsatisfactory to you as a journalist it means it does not qualify to go into the public domain as prescribed by the code of ethics, hence does not qualify to be news because the people have the right to true formation and it is your duty as a journalist to provide them with just that.
The GJA code of ethics were discussed in our introduction to journalism class. The class was divided into groups for each group to work on some chapters of the code of ethics. My group discussed the chapter one of the GJA code of ethics.
"People's right to true Information" states that it is the duty of every journalist to write and report the truth, bearing in mind his duty to serve the public. The public have the right to unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information as well as express themselves freely through the media.
A journalist should make adequate enquiries and cross-check his facts. The rules are clear in a simple/ layman English the question now is do journalists present the truth as they are supposed to?
This chapter must form a very integral role in the practice of journalism. The contents of this chapter simply tells the journalist that because the general public deserves the right to the truth at all times before he publishes a story there are just five questions he needs to ask himself based on the Chapter 1 of the GJA code of ethics:
Is it true?, Is it a fact?, Is it accurate?, Is it an biased?, Is it comprehensive?
When the answers to the aforementioned questions are unsatisfactory to you as a journalist it means it does not qualify to go into the public domain as prescribed by the code of ethics, hence does not qualify to be news because the people have the right to true formation and it is your duty as a journalist to provide them with just that.
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