A media Code of Conduct
for reporting and coverage of Elections 2001 in Guyana Publications Inc. For the benefit of our readers we publish the Code of Conduct to govern the reporting and coverage of the coming elections agreed by the representatives of the media at a Roundtable conference held last week at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel organised by consultants Hugh Cholmondeley and Kit Nascimento on behalf of the Guyana Elections Commission. PREAMBLE Given the desirability of a fair, peaceful and well-regulated election and the avoidance of the aggravation of ethnic tension and unnecessary political discord. We agree and accept that a Code of Conduct for the Media (taken to mean newspapers, radio and television stations) generally respected and observed will contribute to the holding of a free and fair election. We agree to accept, to subscribe to, and, to the very best of our ability, to comply with this Code of Conduct and to take all reasonable steps to ensure its observance. We accept and subscribe to this Code of Conduct on the clear and unqualified understanding that the government or any of its agencies and the Elections Commission, will not impose nor seek to impose any prior restraint or censorship on any publication by the media. The Code of Conduct 1. The Media in its coverage and reporting of the elections during the period of campaigning agree: a) to refrain from the publishing or broadcasting of any matter with the potential for, or likely to promote or incite racial hatred, bias or contempt or any matter with the potential for, or likely to, promote or cause public disorder, pose or become a threat to the security of the nation; b) that the Media should not ridicule, stigmatise or demonise people on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation and physical or mental ability;
c) to hold themselves independent and free of any, or all, government and political opposition control and direction; d) to hold themselves independent and free of any, or all, control and direction from any of the political parties officially registered to contest the elections; e) to hold themselves free of any, or all, control and direction from any individual, group, or organisation representing or promoting the special interests of any of the political parties officially registered to contest the elections. 2. The Media in the exercise of their constitutional right of free expression, and in recognition of their consequential social responsibility to the society which they serve, will at all times endeavour to: a) provide a truthful, comprehensive, accurate, balanced and fair account of events in a context which gives them meaning; b) serve as a forum for the exchange of public comment, opinion, discussion and criticism in a balanced and reasonable manner; c) offer an accurate picture of the constituent groups, organisations and parties contesting the elections and of the society in general; d) present and clarify as far as possible the goals and values of the constituent groups, organisations and parties contesting the elections and of the society in general. 3. The Media, in accepting the principle of "fair and balanced" reporting, recognize that: a) No story is fair, if it omits facts of major importance or significance and is therefore incomplete; b) No story is fair, if it includes essentially irrelevant information, rumour or unsubstantiated statements at the expense of significant facts; c) No story is fair, if it consciously or unconsciously misleads or even deceives the reader, listener or viewer. 4. The Media in accepting the principle of "accuracy and balance" in reporting, particularly during periods of campaigning for elections, acknowledge that these two main characteristics, accuracy and balance, seek to distinguish good journalism from bad, and journalism from propaganda. From this perspective, we accept that: * Accuracy requires the verification (to the fullest extent possible) and presentation of all facts that are pertinent and necessary to understand a particular event or issue, even if some of the facts conflict with a journalist or broadcaster's particular beliefs and feelings; * Balance, or impartiality, requires the presentation of all the main points of view or interpretations of an event or an issue, regardless of whether the journalist, reporter, broadcaster, editor or the audience agrees with these views. 5. The Media further acknowledge that both these ingredients - accuracy and balance are necessary for citizens to gain a full and realistic picture of the issues during election campaigns and the world around them. Democracy, which requires the active participation of informed citizens, depends on journalists to keep citizens informed about major issues. 6. The Media accept that omitting relevant facts and points of view from the reporting of major issues of public interest inevitably distorts the view of reality a journalist, reporter or broadcaster presents and so misleads and misinforms the public. 7. The Media acknowledge that the deliberate distortion of reality so as to lead the public to a particular understanding of events and issues, without regard for reality can poison the process of democracy. 8. The Media support the establishing of an independent Election Monitoring and Refereeing Panel with the requisite resources empowered to monitor and receive complaints and pronounce on the performance of the media. The Media agree to publish the findings of the panel on all complaints received by it.
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