"This report reviews the situation in which media operate in the Middle East, specifically in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and also including a short section on Tunisia [...] Part 1 explores the historical development of the media in the region, outlines their structural environment, and
...
probes practices of censorship and self-censorship. Part 2 looks into those developments of the past decades that have affected the monopoly on information by states and the access to information on the part of the public. Part 3 critically examines the function of guidelines for good journalistic practices in the region, and provides some samples of codes of ethics. Part 4 presents an overview of the recent situation of the media and freedom of expression in the region and provides some historical background. In general, this part seeks to survey the existing media, including the press, radio and television, the Internet, as well as media legislation in the individual countries. Due to specific local circumstances, some of the country sections are however structured in a slightly different manner. Part 5 compiles select training opportunities for journalists, as well as organizations and projects that are committed to networking, monitoring, advocacy and legal aid." (Foreword, page 8)
more
"The book is particularly commendable for providing a one-stop for relevant sections of media laws and for providing essential legal tips including explanations of various legal terms. Its treatment of ethical issues in media practice is a plus. The book strikes a commendable balance of Law and Ethi
...
cs in its structure, devoting four chapters to each of these two areas." (Foreword, page 2)
more
"Formal journalism ethics, as laid out in codes of ethics by journalism associations and the like, is part of a wider debate on media ethics that has been triggered in the Middle East due to the advent of global media in the region. This study compares journalism codes from Europe and the Islamic wo
...
rld in order to revisit the widespread academic assumption of a deep divide between Western and Oriental philosophies of journalism that has played a role in many debates on political communication in the area. The analysis shows that there is a broad intercultural consensus that standards of truth and objectivity should be central values of journalism. Norms protecting the private sphere are, in fact, more pronounced in countries of the Near and Middle East, North Africa, and in the majority of Muslim states in Asia than is generally the case in Europe, although the weighing of privacy protection against the public's right to information is today a component of most journalistic codes of behavior in Islamic countries. Obvious differences between the West and many Islamic countries are to be found in the status accorded to freedom of expression. Although ideas of freedom have entered formal media ethics in the Middle East and the Islamic world, only a minority of documents limit the interference into freedom to cases where other fundamental rights (e.g., privacy) are touched, whereas the majority would have journalists accept political, national, religious, or cultural boundaries to their work. Despite existing differences between Western and Middle Eastern/Islamic journalism ethics and in contrast to the overall neoconservative (Islamist) trends in societal norms, formal journalism ethics has been a sphere of growing universalization throughout the last decades." (Abstract)
more
"This book can only give an overview on practiced media ethics by making available memorable experiences of broadcasters in their daily work. Furthermore it provides an exchange of different views and ideas of broadcasters and offers useful links and further suggestions to get a closer look into how
...
other broadcasting organisations set their Code of Ethics. The final intention of this publication is to inspire the broadcasters thinking on the necessity of a code of conduct for core journalistic values and ethical practices and encourages broadcasting organisations to develop a custom-made Code of Ethics in accordance to the means and needs of their specific organisations." (Preface)
more
"This study explores perceptions of freedom of the press by those who practice it: journalists and media organizations. References to freedom of the press in codes of ethics worldwide were analyzed according to the respective characteristics of organizations and the political-economic status of each
...
country considered. The findings show that the concern journalists express about their freedom is not necessarily related to with the level of freedom of the press prevailing in their respective countries. Moreover, the codes of developing countries primarily display concern about the most fundamental freedoms of all." (Abstract)
more
"This book is based on conclusion that ethics are nothing but a series of moral qualities. The first chapter, apart from tracing the history of ethics and throwing some light on the concept as such, tries to define ethics. The second chapter outlines the efforts surrounding enforcement of ethics in
...
Nepalese journalism apart from reviewing the implementation them. Apart from defining community radio, the third chapter deals in detail with issues related to ethics in community mass media and related areas. In the fourth chapter, since ethics is not a basic or relative law, effort has been made to point out that ethics can undergo changes with time. Fifth chapter tries to incorporate laws which are attracted in the course of information dissemination. The sixth chapter carries differing ethics rendered into Nepali. That will contribute to the task of carrying out comparative analyses. Together with this, a compilation of the ethics enforced in Nepal until now have been carried as annexures." (Foreword)
more
"Composed of questions and answers, this guidebook is practical and easy to use. There is no ‘one-fits-all’ model that can be readily adopted anywhere. Therefore, the publication does not focus on specific countries, but rather on a wide range of practical concerns. How do the existing self-regu
...
latory mechanisms work? What challenges do they face? How to establish or enhance them? Each chapter highlights particular aspects of media self-regulation, including the role of codes of ethics and various accountability mechanisms, such as ombudspersons or press councils. The readers, I hope, will find solutions that they can tailor to their countries’ conditions." (Foreword, page 7-8)
more
"Hay varias formas de elaborar el Código de Ética. Una forma es hacerlo en forma cerrada. En esta modalidad solo participan los propietarios, directivos o jefes que tomen decisiones en la radio o televisora. No es lo más recomendable, pero de hecho, algunos medios han optado por este procedimient
...
o para simplificar el trámite. Otra forma, contemplada en la Ley de Radio y Televisión, es adscribirse al CE elaborado por el Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones. De acuerdo a Ley, los CE debieron haberse implementado 90 días después de la puesta en práctica de la Ley de Radio y Televisión (Julio del 2004). Cumplido ese plazo, los Medios de Comunicación que no lo han hecho estarían incumpliendo la Ley. Por ello se sugiere que los Medios de Comunicación que no han elaborado todavía su Código de Ética, pueden solicitar al MTC acogerse al Código de Ética aprobado por el Ministerio. El problema de estas dos modalidades, es que al no haber participado en la elaboración del Código de Ética, el personal que trabaja diariamente en la radio o televisora no se va a sentir comprometido ni obligado a cumplirlo o hacerlo cumplir. Si lo hacen será solamente por una cuestión de presión o temor por las repercusiones que ello pueda tener, pero no porque esté convencido de su eficacia y utilidad, por lo que es poco probable que sea sostenible en el tiempo. En ese sentido, la mejor forma es hacerlo en forma participativa, involucrando a todo el equipo del medio de comunicación en su discusión interna: propietarios, directivos, jefes, periodistas y personal de la emisora. Asimismo, es recomendable involucrar también en esta discusión a los que alquilan espacios (concesionarios). Esto puede demorar o hacer más lento el proceso, pero también puede ser mucho más enriquecedor el debate; además ello permitirá aplicar un enfoque ético al conjunto de la programación (y no solo a los espacios informativos o periodísticos), reforzando la coherencia de su línea y su posicionamiento [...] Por otro lado, es importante que los mismos públicos del medio de comunicación puedan participar dando una opinión sobre estos temas. Los Códigos de Ética son instrumentos públicos, de manera tal que desde su diseño inicial debe involucrar la participación y opinión de los públicos con los que se vincula el medio de comunicación. Además, muchas veces la lógica de los públicos difiere sustantivamente de la lógica con la que actúan los periodistas o productores del medio de comunicación, por lo que es necesario contrastar estos puntos de vista distintos. Esto se puede lograr a través de grupos de debate, grupos focales, encuestas, entrevistas u otras técnicas participativas." (Páginas 36-41)
more
"Community broadcasters are united by six guiding principles. We will work to:
1. Promote harmony and diversity and contribute to an inclusive, cohesive and culturally-diverse Australian community
2. Pursue the principles of democracy, access and equity, especially for people and issues not adequate
...
ly represented in other media
3. Enhance the diversity of programming choices available to the public and present programs that expand the variety of viewpoints broadcast in Australia
4. Demonstrate independence in programming as well as in editorial and management decisions
5. Support and develop local arts and music
6. Increase community involvement in broadcasting.
Throughout the Codes, community broadcasting licensees are referred to as ‘we’ or ‘our’. The terms are legally binding." (Guiding principles, page 3)
more