Social
Writers have social responsibilities to abide to, for example writers must not discriminate anyone based on their
race, sexual orientation, gender, etc. so they have to remember to be cautious
on what they’re writing because it is going public and members of the public
can be sensitive towards certain topics, writers also have to be aware of the
fact that their articles could be read by minors and people who have been a
victim of discrimination themselves. Writers have a responsibility to tell the
truth! If an article is prejudice or biased, factually incorrect writing makes
for an ignorant readership. My blog post on SUPPORTING gay marriage could cause
offence to some people because not everybody supports what is important to me
and because it’s such a strong subject it can be very likely to cause
controversy.
Discrimination
– “The press must avoid prejudicial or
pejorative reference or details to an individual's race, colour, religion,
gender, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability
unless genuinely relevant to the story”
An example of this
was when Actress Ellen Page came out as gay an article was written about her by
E! Saying she dresses like a “Massive man”
Legal
Writers have legal
responsibilities to abide to, they must AVOID Defamation/libel and must print apologies if they commit the
following..An example of this is Chris Jefferies was arrested for the murder of landscape architect ‘Jo Yeates’ and vilified by the press even after he was cleared’
Contempt of court- journalists are not allowed to write articles that are biased or unjust about a case that might sway the jury to believe otherwise, paying witnesses in trial for information, revealing names of children and info that is sub-judice.
Children – “A child under 16 must not be interviewed or photographed on issue involving their own or another child’s welfare unless a custodial parent or similarly responsible adult consents. Minors must not be paid for material involving children’s welfare, nor parents or guardians for material about their children or wards, unless it is clearly in the child’s interest. Editors must not use the fame, notoriety or position of a parent or guardian as sole justification for publishing details of a child’s private life.”
Writing should not violate laws of copyright for example (be thieved from someone else’s copyrighted work without proper permission)
Revealing information that was told in strict confidence by confidential sources or that threatens national security
Confidential Sources- Journalists have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of information.
Ethical
Writes have a duty
to obey the codes of practice and obey the law regarding privacy, intrusion and harassment
in getting their stories.
Harassment – “Journalists
must not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit”
As has recently
revealed newspapers have not been doing this effectively at all
An example of invading
someone’s privacy is that the singer ‘Pink!’ attacks the paparazzi for invading
her baby’s privacy, she called on the media to not take or publish pictures of
her daughter, and she quotes
‘Like any parents
we believe our little girl deserves the right to have privacy and be protected,
but unfortunately, this media climate does not seem to provide for that’
