Obligation of writers

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..

Libel- “A published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation”
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.

Privacy – “Editors will be expected to justify themselves if they have made intrusions in to an individual’s private life without consent. Account will be taken of the complainant’s own public disclosure of information It is unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent.”

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’