Building Trust In a New World Of Information - Aidan White

1. Ethical Journalism Network
Building
Trust In a
New World
Of Information
Aidan White
Twitter: aidanpwhite
aidanpatrickwhite@gmail.com

2. Who we are
A coalition of media professional
groups from around the world
committed to building trust in media
and promoting principles of ethical
journalism, good governance and self-
regulation in the digital age
www.ethicaljournalismnetwork.org

3. African Centre for Media Excellence
African Media Initiative
Alliance of Independent Press Councils
of Europe
Article 19
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
Association of Commercial Television in
Europe
CASCFEN
Center for International Media Ethics
Center For Media Freedom &
Responsibility
Editor-In-Chiefs Forum Hungary
European Broadcasting Union
European Federation of Journalists
European Journalism Centre
European Magazine Media Association
European Newspaper Publishers
Association
European Publishers Council
Fundación Nuevo Periodismo
Iberoamericano
Global Editors Network
Global Forum for Media Development
iMediaEthics
International Association of Women in
Radio & Television
International Press Institute
Internews Europe
Media Diversity Institute
MediaWise
Online News Association
Organization of News Ombudsmen
Pakistan Coalition for Ethical Journalism
PANOS South Asia
Punto24
Religion News Service
Reynolds Journalism Institute
South East Europe Media Organisation
South East Europe Network for Media
Professionalization
Tanzania Journalists Alliance
Thomson Foundation
World Association of Newspapers and
News Publishers
World Press Freedom Committee

4. Human Beings are
Ethical Animals
Society is based on respect for rights. These
rights are agreed international standards.
• Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
• Convention on Civil and Political
Rights
• Regional Human Rights Instruments

5. Ethics and Journalism
Journalism’s conventions and
standards are set out in codes.
There are more than 400 codes at
national and global level.
http://rjionline.org/AS-Codes-of-
Ethics

6. Ethical Journalism is not
Free Expression
• Journalism is not free speech,
it is constrained expression.
• It works in a framework of
values.
• It has purpose.
• It is a public good.

7. Journalism is about Telling
the Story in Context
According to ethical obligations:
• Truth
• Independence
• Impartiality
• Humanity
• Accountability

8. But there are other
Constraints…
Internet, Changing Industry,
New Culture of
Communications,
Politics, Commercial Interest,
Hate Speech and intolerance

9. Turning the Page of Hate:
A New Campaign to Promote
Tolerance in Journalism
Launched April 18th 2014 in Rwanda to
mark 20 anniversary of Genocide
Aims to mobilise journalism at all
levels against manipulation of media
and journalism as weapons of hatred
and incitement to violence

10. Case Study: Rwanda
1994: 800,000 Killed. Hate media helped
organise slaughter

11. Hate Speech
in the
Media Focus
Islamaphobia
Anti-Semitism
Genocide
Religion
Race relations
Migration
Gender equality
Homosexuality

12. Hate speech and free
expression
Hate speech can be a way of mobilising public
support for actions that threaten the lives of
others.
Propaganda has always been an important
strategic aspect of making war.
But people are entitled to free speech, even if
they hold offensive and hurtful opinions.
But what are the limits? And who draws the red
lines which define the frontiers of tolerance?

13. Challenge of Combating
Hate in Media
• Hate speech matter of international
concern since 1945
• International legal prohibition over hate
speech related to race and ethnicity
• Lack of clear definition
• Need for informed, careful and inclusive
journalism

14. Threats From Stereotypes
A mob of wild-eyed men yelling, during
anti-US protests over the infamous
Innocence of Muslims Film in 2012. Was
this an accurate picture? Did Media stir
up Hatred?

15. Case Study: Islamaphobia
2006: Mohammed Cartoons. Global row over
free speech rights after cartoons caused offence
to Muslims. Politically-inspired violence. At
least 150 killed. Media manipulated.
2010: United States pastor Terry Jones
becomes global media sensation for wanting to
burn the Koran. Unknown number of deaths.
Media manipulated.
2012: Inaccurate media story of anti-Muslim
film, Innocence of Muslims. At least 73 killed.

16. The confusion
between image and
reality in the world of
open information

17. Between Racism and Satire?

18. The Art of Apology
This was meant as a joke, but it was
completely wrong because it is based on a
fallacy -- that racism is no longer accepted,
and that it can be laughed at safely.
De Morgen offers its apologies to anyone
who feels offended. Sorry. We are in this
case guilty of bad taste. We remain on the
side of the multitudes fighting against all
forms of racism.

19. Telling the Story in
Context:
Avoid a Rush to Publish
Show Humanity
Be Transparent
Be Accountable

20. Audience and Media
in Partnership
• Rethinking Acts of Journalism
• Expand the Base: Ethics are for All
• Industry Commitment to change
• Good Governance, Self-regulation
• Leadership from within journalism
• Partnership with the audience

21. Ethical Journalism Network
Media
Making
Their
Mark at
Election Time

22. Five Principles for
Election Coverage

23. 1. Build Public Trust
• Publish Ground Rules and develop a
Media Election Code
• Publicise Rules of the Elections
• Highlight Watchdog Function of Media
• Work in Partnership with Audience and
Social Media

24. 2. Practice Your Principles
• Establish Internal Guidelines to
strengthen Ethical Base: Editorial
Independence
• Avoid Conflicts of Interest
• Show Zero Tolerance of Hate and
Incitement in political speech

25. 3. Quality Journalism
• Provide staff training, election
law, good practice for political
reporting
• Insist on Good governance from
top to bottom of Media pyramid
• Focus on Safety of all staff
• Separate Comment, News and
Advertising

26. 4. Audience Voice
• Establish citizens’ groups to test
opinion
• Use in-depth interviews with a mix
voters (not just vox-pop)
• Highlight the experiences and
aspirations of ordinary people
• Use Crowd-sourcing, Social Media
Moderate all User Content
• Don’t put Clicks before Quality

27. 5. Newsroom Leadership
• Set Targets and Benchmarks: Establish a
newsroom task force
• Review your performance and use all
platforms of journalism
• Take account of audience feedback and
be different – don’t follow the pack,
follow the money
• Work with other media to respond to
external threats

28. Ten Reporting Tips
• Report events as they happen.
• Be impartial in every way:
Give equal prominence to major
candidates.
• Be inclusive and respect diversity
• Avoid sensationalism. Because someone
says something outrageous doesn’t
make it news.

29. …and more
• Never accept any inducement – cash or
otherwise – from a candidate or a
political party.
• Do not makes promises to politicians
about your story.
• Exercise fair play. If a person is unfairly
attacked, give them a chance to reply.

30. …and more.
• Avoid inflammatory language. If
someone is abusively insulting, say so.
Do we need to repeat the offence?
• Report what candidates say -- not
what their supporters say candidates
said.
• Do not take sides in political
arguments.

31. Principles of self-regulation
1. Internal – Company Level
• Mission statement, Code of Conduct
• Good governance and transparency
• Respond to concerns and complaints
2. External – National Structures
• Industry-wide system of self-regulation
• Politically independent
• Mix of professional and public representation

32. EJN at Work
Pakistan: Ethical Audits and elections.
Turkey: Business and politics as Threats
Egypt: The Threat of Self Censorship
Indonesia: Model Press Councils for Asia
Africa: Turning the Page of Hate
Myanmar: Building Solidarity
Europe: Pluralism and Media Rights
Studies: Does self-regulation work? Corruption
on the Inside? Tools to combat hate.

33. Build
Trust