Which bodies regulate print and online journalism?
- IPSO and IMPRESS
- Self regulatory
Which body regulates broadcasting?
- OFCOM
- Statutory regulations
What criteria does something have to meet to be classed as in the public interest?
- Detecting or exposing crime
- Protecting public health and safety
- Protecting the public from being misled- public interest in freedom of expression
Describe the accuracy clause (Clause 1) of the IPSO code
- Take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted info or images, including headlines not supported by the text
- Distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact
- NO PUBLIC INTEREST DEFENCE
Describe the privacy clause (Clause 2) of the IPSO code?
- Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private family life, home, health, and correspondence, including digital comms
- Account will be taken of the complainant’s own public disclosures of info
- It’s unacceptable to photo individuals, without their consent, in public or private places where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy
Describe the harassment clause (Clause 3) of the IPSO code
- Do not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit
- Don’t persist in questioning, telephoning, pursuing, or photographing individuals once asked to stop
- Don’t remain on property when asked to leave
Describe the intrusion into grief and shock clause (Clause 4) of the IPSO code
- Make enquiries and approaches with sympathy and discretion
- Handle publication sensitivity
- Don’t publish details of people caught up in traumatic events before next of kin have been informed
- NO PUBLIC INTEREST
Describe the reporting suicide clause (Clause 5) of the IPSO code
- News of suicide may prompt others to take their own lives in same way
- Avoid excessive details
- To avoid simulative acts (copycat incidents)
Describe the children clause (Clause 6) of the IPSO code
- Must not be photographed/filmed (secretly or openly) or interviewed about issues concerning their welfare or welfare of another child without consent of appropriate adult
- Children must be allowed to complete their education without interference
- Children must not be photographed on school premises without permission of the school
- Must not use fame/notoriety/position of parent as sole justification for publishing details of child’s private life
- There must be “exceptional public interest to breach these clauses
What does OFCOM say when it comes to children and vulnerable people?
- Broadcasters should pay particular attention to privacy of people under 16
- Where programme features an individual under 16 or vulnerable person in a way that infringes privacy, consent must be obtained
- Unless it is warranted to proceed without consent (ie in public interest)
Describe the children in sex cases clause (Clause 7) of the IPSO code?
- Do not, even if legally free to do so, identify children under 16 who are victims or witnesses in sex offences cases
- Adults may be identified but don’t include info that implies relationship between child and accused
Describe the hospitals clause (Clause 8) of the IPSO code
- Identify yourself as a journalist and obtain permission from a responsible executive before entering non-public areas of hospitals or similar institutions to pursue inquiries
- Remember, restrictions on intruding on privacy and particularly relevant to enquiries about individuals in hospitals or similar institutions
Describe the reporting crimes clause (Clause 9) of the IPSO code
- Relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of crime shouldn’t generally be ID without consent, u less they are genuinely relevant to the story
- Particular regard should be paid to potentially vulnerable position of children who witness or are victims of, crime
Describe the devices/subterfuge clause (Clause 10) of the IPSO code
- Always be upfront about who you are and what you’re doing
- Irrespective of Code, using hidden cameras or microphones could breach privacy laws
- Public interest exceptions only apply when reasonable to believe open approach wouldn’t work
Is it a criminal offence to use a hidden camera/mic?
No
-Could breach civil law eg “reasonable expectation of privacy”
Is it illegal to intercept emails and voicemails?
Yes
-Under RIPA and Computer Misuse Act 1990
Can you record phone calls, and/or pretend to be someone you’re not?
Yes
-As long as you’re not impersonating a police officer, or to obtain goods by deception, or gain entry to property
What does the Editors’ Code say about hidden cameras/subterfuge?
- Must not seek to obtain or publish material acquired by using hidden cameras or clandestine devices
- Or by intercepting private or mobile telephone calls, messages or emails
- Or by the unauthorised removal of documents, or photographs
- Or by accessing digitally-held private info without consent
- Recording phone calls you take part in without consent isn’t a breach (IPSO)
- There must be consent if material is intended for broadcast (OFCOM)
- Must not use misinterpretation or subterfuge
- Must ID yourself and whom you represent
Describe the victims of sexual assault clause (Clause 11) of the IPSO code?
The press must not ID victims of sexual assault or to publish material likely to contribute to such ID unless there is adequate justification AND they’re legally free to do so
Describe the discrimination clause (Clause 12) of the IPSO code
- Don’t include details of a person’s race, colour, religion, gender, ID, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or disability unless genuinely relevant to story
- Matters relating to discriminatory and pejorative language
Describe the financial journalism clause (Clause 13) of the IPSO code
- Don’t use financial info you receive in advance of general publication for own profit, or pass such info to others
- Don’t write about shares/securities in whose performance you or close family has significant financial interest without disclosing interest to your editor
- Don’t buy or sell, either directly or through nominees or agents, shares or securities about which you will have written recently or about which you intend to write in near future
Describe the confidential sources clause (Clause 14) of the IPSO code
Journalists have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of info
Describe the witness payments in trial clause (Clause 15) of the IPSO code
No payment pr offer of payment to a witness- or any person who may reasonably be expected to be called as a witness- should be made in any case once proceedings active s defined by Contempt of Court Act 1981
Describe the payments to criminals clause (Clause 16) of the IPSO code
Payments or offers of payments for stories, pictures of info, which seek to exploit a particular crime or to glorify or glamorise crime in general, must not be made directly or via agents to convicted or confessed criminals or top their associates
-May include family, friends and colleagues
