Question

Writing the Code 

You were recently hired as the Managing Editor for News and Current Affairs at a new radio  station.  

The Board of Directors has mandated you to draft a Code of Conduct/Ethics for news staff,  programme producers and disc jockeys. The document should include guidelines for the  following: 

i) News gathering and reporting (include a guiding philosophy for the work of  journalists in a democratic society). Be sure to include guidelines relating to: - children and the treatment of children in criminal cases; grief and trauma; victims  of crime; privacy and listening devices; discrimination; conflict of interest; accuracy, fairness and the opportunity to reply; harassment; payment for publishing information and disciplinary action for breaches.  

ii) The placement of certain types of advertisements; the relationship between the  newsroom and the sales and marketing department and treatment of controversial  topics. 

iii) The placement of programmes for mature audiences and children as well as the  treatment of programmes with violent content and adult language.  

iv) Music playlist selections by announcers and disc jockeys. 

Each section heading should be preceded by a brief but clear justification of the guidelines  by outlining the legal and ethical considerations that informed them. 

Total: 30mks

Answer 1

Code of Conduct

i) Sensitivity of the Information- All the program producers, new staff, and disc Jockeys are advised to be sensitive towards the reports as to whom and what they are associated within order to comply with regulations and avoid future disputes. These topics of conversation can be the following children and the treatment of children in criminal cases; grief and trauma; victims of crime; privacy and listening devices; discrimination; conflict of interest; accuracy, fairness and the opportunity to reply; harassment; payment for publishing information and disciplinary action for breaches.

ii) Advertisement Policy- The advertisements that are being broadcasted should always comply with the provided guidelines and should always keep a distance from controversial topics. There should be a positive relationship between the newsroom and the sales and marketing department.

iii) Viewer discretion- the viewers should always be advised to scrutinize the summary of the topic being discussed and follow through only if they are comfortable.

iv) Background score and music- No music should be broadcasted which can be demeaning to any caste, race, religion, gender or any other group to the society.