Ejn Ethics in The News PDF

Ethics in the News
EJN Report on Challenges for Journalism in the Post-truth Era
Ethical
EJN Journalism
Network EDITED BY Aidan White
ETHICS IN THE NEWS EJN Report on Challenges for Journalism in the Post-truth Era 1
Ethics in the News
Published in London by the Ethical Journalism Network
2017 Ethical Journalism Network
11 Vicarage Road, London, E15 4HD United Kingdom
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The
contents of this book are covered by authors rightsand further use of the contributions will be granted after
consultation with the Editor under the conditions of Creative Commons.
Designed by Mary Schrider (mary.schrider@gmail.com)
This report is published as part of a programme of assistance to the work of the EJN provided by the Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Acknowledgements
This report is part of an ongoing programme of the EJN to raise awareness within media on the importance of
ethical standards. The views of the authors are very much their own and do not necessarily reflect the settled
policy of the EJN. We are grateful for their contributions and we particularly thank Douglas Morrison for his careful
oversight of the editing process and to Mary Schrider for her skilful design and presentation.
Photo credits Page 25: Thierry Ehrmann (licensed under CC BY 2.0)

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Contents
Introduction: Truth-Telling and Ethics Remain the Keys to Open Democracy.......................4
Trumped: How US Media Played the Wrong Hand on Right-Wing Success............................6
Media Lies and Brexit: A Double Hammer-Blow to Europe and Ethical Journalism............11
Fake News: Facebook and Matters of Fact in the Post-Truth Era...........................................14
Refugee Images: Ethics in the Picture.......................................................................................18
Five Point Guide For Migration Reporting...............................................................................21
The Perfect Source: Edward Snowden, a Role Model for Whistleblowers and Journalists..........22
Ethical Ground Rules for Handling Sources.............................................................................25
Facts Matter: The Panama Papers Make the Case for Quality Journalism.............................28
Hate Speech: A Dilemma for Journalists the World Over........................................................29
When Media Become Foot-Soldiers On the highest Front line..............................................33
Women in the Crosshairs as Hate Speech Puts African Media Under Pressure....................36
Locusts, Hotdogs and Leftards..................................................................................................39
Turning the Page of Hate: A Media Campaign for Tolerance in Journalism..........................42
Attention Media: There is No HONOUR in Killing!................................................................43
Turkey: After an Attempted Coup the Journalists Nightmare................................................45
Contributors...............................................................................................................................48
About the Ethical Journalism Network.....................................................................................49

Introduction
Introduction
Truth-Telling and Ethics Remain

the Keys to Open Democracy
Aidan White
The war in Syria and the humanitarian ordeal of extremism and political propaganda across the
Aleppo brought 2016 to a sombre close and remind continent. Inevitably, the media challenges around
us that the ethics of humanity and truth-telling the Trump election in the United States are also
remain the twin pillars of ethical journalism. centre stage amidst a new wave of bigotry, sexism
and polarising rhetoric that has shaken people at
But after a year of unprecedented news-making it home and abroad.
might be worth stepping back to ask a pertinent We also analyse how journalism with a public
question what is the future of ethical journalism purpose is being overwhelmed in a do-it-yourself
in an age when it appears that the public around world of communications that has led to a so-called
the world are falling out with facts, humanity and post-truth movement in which facts and expert
accountable truth-telling? opinion are sidelined in public discourse.
While it is too early to answer the question, this But this is no western media crisis. Elsewhere, the
special edition of Ethics in the News throws some question is equally relevant.
light on professional challenges facing media in In Turkey, for instance, we report from the
2016. Our writers make a contribution to the debate frontline of a catastrophic and on-going assault on
about media futures and we give journalists some free expression and journalism as Prime Minister
key tips on ethical survival techniques.. Recep Tayyip Erdoan, one of a new breed of
In Europe we look at how media reported on authoritarian leaders, purges the media landscape
the UK vote to leave the European Union, which of critical journalists in the aftermath of a failed
intensified concerns about the revival of racism, coup detat.
4 ETHICAL JOURNALISM NETWORK (EJN)

The worlds changing culture of communications, driven by the imperial
power of internet companies and social networks, not only encourages
users to create personal echo-chambers at the expense of information
pluralism, it has also shredded the market models that used to nourish
ethical journalism.
We also look at the role of war-mongering media information pluralism, it has also shredded the market
in India where the year ended with a full-scale models that used to nourish ethical journalism.
information war between India and Pakistan and Many observers inside media are not overly
with bellicose journalists stoking up the prospects of optimistic about the future, but although there
a new conflict between these nuclear states. may be more rumour, speculation, fake-news and
We also examine the continuing global rise of misinformation as the information market moves
hate speech, particularly in Asia, where there are online, there is a growing movement to strengthen
increasing regional tensions around China and the craft of journalism.
Japan, not least because of territorial disputes Indeed, in every part of the world, even where
and increasing nationalism. And we look at how a megaphone politics is in power, journalists
glossary for hate in Hong Kong might help take the committed to the values of accuracy, humanity and
sting out of some of the medias bad language. transparency are doing good work, connecting with
In Africa, media struggle to rise above conflicts in audiences and sometimes putting themselves at risk
central and eastern regions covering Burundi, the in the process.
Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Kenya and Public trust will only return when people have
South Sudan. We highlight the efforts of journalists confidence that powerful institutions government,
to cool things down through the EJNs Turning the the state, corporate power are accountable and
Page of Hate campaign. listening to their concerns. Journalism at its best can
Beyond politics we also look at how media add do this job, but not without fresh support.
to the ordeal of women who are victimised by The crisis outlined here is not just one of
repressive social and cultural attitudes which professionalism, it is a watershed moment for
continue to dominate media coverage of the democracy and requires political will to invest
shockingly mis-named honour killings in Pakistan. in open, connected and pluralist systems of
But it has not all been bad news for journalism communication. What is needed are new directions
in 2016. In fact, perhaps the biggest single, in public policy:
corruption-busting story of the decade came from To develop practical and sustainable solutions to
an unprecedented piece of investigative journalism the funding crisis facing independent journalism.
carried out by 400 journalists in 80 countries the
Panama Papers. To support the public purpose of journalism
And we highlight two areas of particular ethical through more investment in public service media.
practice that make journalism a cornerstone of To launch campaigns to combat hatred, racism
reliability and trust: firstly, a tribute to all the and intolerance.
whistle-blowers and sources who make public To provide more resources for investigative
interest journalism possible through the eyes of reporting and ways of promoting minority voices.
the reporter who helped Edward Snowden reveal To encourage attachment to ethical values in the
the secrets of United States global surveillance and management and governance of journalism.
snooping; and, second, a thoughtful examination
of how we use images to tell stories, focused on To put pressure on social networks and Internet
migration. companies to accept responsibility that as
We also provide tips for journalists on how to publishers they must monitor their news services.
stick to the facts, protect sources, report fairly on And, not least:
migration, identify hate speech, block fake news
To support expanded media and information
and guard against war-mongering and propaganda.
literacy programmes to make people including
In all, our report reveals that ethical journalism has
politicians and others in public life more aware
rarely been under such sustained pressure, both
of the need for responsible, tolerant and other-
political and commercial.
regarding communications.
The worlds changing culture of communications,
driven by the imperial power of internet companies For more information on the EJN and its work and
and social networks, not only encourages users to how you can provide support see:
create personal echo-chambers at the expense of http://www.ethicaljournalismnetwork.org
TRUMPED
How US Media Played the Wrong
Hand on Right-Wing Success
Bill Orme
H
ate speech had never been considered good strategy in the presidential
politics of the United States. But the world woke up on 9 November 2016
to learn that this was no longer the case. For the first time in modern
history the US had a president-elect whose victory was applauded publicly by
the Ku Klux Klan while the American Nazi Party was equally exultant.
6 ETHICAL
ETHICAL JOURNALISM
JOURNALISM NETWORK
NETWORK (EJN)
(EJN)
In Donald Trumps campaigning
Mexicans were called rapists and
murderers; African-American
communities were crime-infested
hellholes; total and complete
shutdown of Muslim immigration was
proposed. Trump accused his opponent,
Hillary Clinton, of conspiring with
shadowy international bankers to steal
the election, in language echoing the
anti-Semitic tract The Protocols of the
Elders of Zion.
Ethical and factual considerations
aside, few in the US media saw
these slurs as a winning script for a
presidential race. On the contrary, they
were widely considered so crudely and
self-evidently objectionable as to be
almost automatically disqualifying.
Trumps victory marked the first time
a US presidential candidate was elected
despite the editorial-page opposition of
almost every major state and national
newspaper, including several which had Few US news organisations devoted much coverage
always endorsed Republican nominees. to the even darker substratum of Trumps most bigoted
Many of them cited his comments
about immigrants and women as a
supporters, who had cheered his electoral success as a
central reason for their editorial stance. vindication of their contempt for blacks, Latinos, Muslims,
Yet until late in the campaign, few US
news organisations devoted much
Jews, gays and others they consider inferior to white
coverage to the even darker substratum Christian European-Americans.
of Trumps most bigoted supporters,
who had cheered his electoral success
as a vindication of their contempt for
blacks, Latinos, Muslims, Jews, gays and reaction: Racism has been routinised; on its jeremiads against the Clintons
others they consider inferior to white anti-Semitism normalised; xenophobia and leading Republicans as corrupt
Christian European-Americans. deexceptionalised; and misogyny insiders (Bloomberg News ran a
Immediately after the election, mainstreamed. prescient profile of Bannon in October
however, many more journalists began Within days, as Bannons and 2015, calling him the most dangerous
to pay heed. It became clear that the Breitbart Newss long history of race- political operative in America).
most destructive consequence of baiting, misogynistic and anti-Semitic Even after his elevation in the new
Donald Trumps successful presidential commentary was spotlighted in leading Trump administration, Bannon was
race could be its mainstreaming of media, a viral stop Bannon movement often euphemistically labelled in
racist political rhetoric and, with his became the first broad-based challenge news accounts as a provocateur or
victory, the implicit legitimisation of to the incoming administration. firebrand without specific reference
once-marginal voices on the white But it was not as if Bannon had been a to his disparagement of blacks, Jews,
nationalist right who endorsed his political unknown, or his publications Muslims, gays and liberal feminists.
candidacy. racist-right views a secret: he was, after This record notwithstanding, is it fair
One of Trumps first moves as all, Trumps general-election campaign to attribute these views to the president-
president-elect was to name a champion manager, and Breitbart News had elect and the 60million-plus Americans
of these white supremacist groups as been an early and influential Trump who voted for him?
his administrations Chief Strategist. supporter in the Republican primaries. There is little evidence that racial
Stephen Bannon, publisher of Breitbart Breitbart was already infamous for prejudice was a prime motivator for
News, described by the Anti-Defamation denigrating African-American Black most blue-collar Trump supporters,
League as the premier website of the Lives Matter activists and Muslim- many of whom felt threatened by
alt-right a loose-knit group of white American civil-rights defenders among globalisation and wage stagnation
nationalists, unabashed anti-Semites its many other ethnic and political and were angered by what they saw
and racists. The KKK, the American targets. as a betrayal of the working class by
Nazi Party and other like-minded Yet too few in the media took Bannon Washington elites.
groups praised Bannons selection. seriously as a political force and Unquestionably, though, Trumps
The outraged president of the National potential powerbroker. Those who did serial bigotry was central to his
Association for the Advancement of focused less on his publications role as appeal for many, as was made clear
Colored People (NAACP) tweeted his a platform for white racists and more afterward to those he had targeted.
Trump never disavowed the support of self-declared neo-Nazis, who
praised him as a kindred spirit.
In an unprecedented wave of post- Trump victory was highly unlikely and war and drastic restrictions on all
election attacks, supporters across the that after his seemingly inevitable defeat Asian immigration decades before.
country hurled threats and insults at these groups would either retreat or be The Klu Klux Klan itself also held
blacks, Latinos, Muslims, gays and other pushed back into obscurity. election-period protests in northern
minorities. The candidate himself, meanwhile, states against the hiring of Catholic
Swastikas and KKK insignias were was inflammatory enough. Journalists immigrants by big-city governments
spray-painted on mosques, synagogues who considered Trumps persona and police forces. (As a young man,
and student centres. Hate crimes and discourse more outlandish than Donald Trumps German-American
reported to police rose to record dangerous were lulled into further father was arrested by New York City
levels. Fears of suddenly legitimised complacency by their own polls police at an anti-Irish KKK march.)
discrimination prompted post-election which gave Clinton a seemingly Yet more recently, most hate speech
protest marches in most major cities. insurmountable lead. was considered beyond the pale in
Why didnt more in the media see this Now news organisations are taking political campaigns. This was not
coming? this far-right political-media ecosystem primarily for ideological or ethical
From the beginning of the campaign, seriously. Liberal commentators are reasons but because it was simply
coverage of openly bigoted pro-Trump belatedly warning against the post- seen as bad form, bad politics and
groups presented an ethical dilemma election normalising of the racial guaranteeing press condemnation.
for news organisations. No longer biases and misogyny of leading Trump Even an avowed segregationist like
could they be dismissed as fringe advisors and backers, as well as of those George Wallace, the Alabama governor
extremists when their views were being voiced by the man himself. who ran for the presidency in the
openly championed and their support Is this new normal of campaign 1960s, was careful to avoid overtly
seemingly welcomed by a major-party hate-speech really new? American racist language.
presidential nominee. political discourse has never been free of Political endorsements from
Yet there was still little evidence that racism, misogyny, xenophobia or other groups like the KKK were considered
they represented an election-swaying prejudice. The First Amendment to the politically toxic and quickly disavowed
voting bloc. And it could be argued Constitution protects even the vilest by most right-wing politicians. The
that giving front-page prominence to verbal attacks on other peoples ethnicity rare media portrayals of smaller hate
their racial prejudices would only give and religious beliefs and many bigots groups and publications typically
them the publicity they craved and an have taken up these legal protections. focused on their influence on white
undeserved political legitimacy. Appeals to racial prejudice led to domestic terrorists, like Timothy
Moreover, major US news the mass imprisonment of Japanese- McVeigh, whose 1995 bombing in
organisations shared a belief that a Americans in the second world Oklahoma City claimed 168 lives.

These groups and their lone-wolf Party) presidential contender. their own candidates in races across
acolytes were seen as comprising a tiny What was radically different in 2016 the country, running as pro-Trump
if virulent minority on the far right. is that for the first time in American Republicans?
What was missed was how widespread political history the standard-bearer of As Potoks research shows, some
anger at the election of the first African- one of the two major US political parties already have, with the blessing of
American president and resentment had not only personally engaged in local GOP leaders, despite their white
against Latino immigration had fused overt bigotry but deliberately positioned supremacist antecedents. Others
into broader right-wing dissidence that these prejudices at the centre of a entered major-party politics for the
embraced the racially charged rhetoric presidential campaign. first time as Trump delegates in the
of these groups and sometimes these As a result, scores of once-marginal Republican primaries. Few received
groups and their leaders themselves. far-right groups that had never before national media attention at the time.
Still, there were limits. Most backed a major-party candidate A common denominator of many
American conservative leaders became active supporters of Donald of these activists is their prominence
spurned the identitarian ideology Trump. And Trump, to the dismay of on the right-wing websites and radio
of Europes anti-immigrant right as many Republican Party professionals, shows that have reshaped the US media
antithetical to US traditions of ethnic refused to denounce these groups and political landscape and for which
and religious pluralism, even while even though the partys long-term there is no equivalent on the left side of
they were blocking efforts to legalise viability depends on significant the spectrum.
undocumented immigrants. Among support from minority voters, who Some of the more prominent include:
GOP legislators and past presidential in much of the country are collectively William Johnson, head of the avowedly
aspirants, few associated themselves nearing majority status. But Trump white-nationalist American Freedom
with the world views of Nigel Farage, campaigned with contempt for the Party and a Trump delegate in the
Geert Wilders or Le Pen pre. Republican establishment and other presidential primaries, who proclaimed
But Trump made common cause with proponents of political correctness. in campaign calls on Trumps behalf:
Europes anti-immigrant right, attacking Trump never disavowed the support The white race is dying out in America
Angela Merkel for opening Germanys of self-declared neo-Nazis, who praised and Europe because we are afraid to be
doors to Syrian refugees, cheering him as a kindred spirit. The chairman called racist.
on the Brexit movement and even of the American Nazi Party, Rocky J
Retired Lt Gen William G Jerry
appearing with Farage by his side. After Suhayda, told his followers that Trumps
Boykin, one of the few former
the election, Farage volunteered to serve campaign statements, if nothing else,
senior military officers publicly
as a United Kingdom liaison with the US have shown that our views are not so
endorsing and campaigning for
president-elect. unpopular as the Political Correctness
Trump. Boykin was best known for
Hard-right groups were delighted, citing crowd have told everyone they are!
being reprimanded by then-president
Trumps popularity as proof that their The fascist-nativist Vanguard News
George W Bush for portraying US
views could no longer be considered Network declared that: Only Trump can
deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan
extreme. Our message is more visible turn back the brown tide, and thinking
as a holy war against Islam and
than ever before, wrote Brad Griffin, Whites know this. James Edwards, a
proposing a ban on the construction
editor of the white nationalist website white nationalist radio talk-show host,
of mosques throughout the United
Occidental Dissent, in early 2016. Its said with satisfaction: Our people just
States. Now leading a militant
also all due to Trumps presidential run ... needed a viable candidate and theyve
evangelical Christian group called the
Can you imagine a world in which White identified Trump as that man.
Kingdom Warriors Boykin appeared
Nationalists have come out of the closet, In September, in an unusual campaign
often on television news shows as
the charge of racism elicits only a meh address, Hillary Clinton catalogued
a Trump supporter and surrogate
and shrugged shoulders, and we have the many extremist groups backing the
before and after the election.
begun to openly organise? Trump campaign, most of them part
President Obamas historic election of the self-proclaimed alt-right, the Frank Gaffney, from the hard-right
in 2008 prompted an upsurge in movement popularised by Breitbart Islamophobic fringe of the national
openly racist anti-black rhetoric, the News. Rather than take offence security commentariat, was named
most common and deep-rooted form at Clintons speech, these groups as a foreign policy advisor to Trumps
of US racial prejudice, but one rarely welcomed her attacks and use of their transition team. Gaffney, a former
voiced aloud by politicians or media preferred terminology as evidence of Assistant Secretary of Defense in
commentators. their growing influence. the Reagan administration, runs
In Obamas case, this anti-black racism The term alt-right is a rebranding the Center for Security Policy, a
was intensified by xenophobic claims that of white supremacists for the digital small, anodyne-sounding nonprofit
the president was not really American age, says Mark Potok, who monitors US organisation which the Southern
but rather a Kenya-born Muslim, which hate groups for the Alabama-based Poverty Law Center has designated
received wide airing on right-wing radio Southern Poverty Law Center. a hate group for its attacks on
and television, most prominently on After Trumps victory, not only in the Muslim-Americans and accusations
Fox News, the countrys most-watched reliably Republican south but in such of treason against the non-Muslim
cable channel. The most prominent former Democratic strongholds as American officials who defend them.
spokesman for this birtherism was Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, He also hosts his own online radio
Donald Trump, who used the issue to are these hate groups now poised to show, with leading white supremacists
propel his rise as a GOP (Republican expand their influence by placing as frequent guests.
2016 that he had already received the
equivalent of more than $2 billion in
free advertising from major media
companies about triple the broadcast
and print coverage given to Hillary
Clinton.
All that free publicity paid off. Trump
ultimately collected more votes in the
2016 primaries than any Republican
candidate before him. In the general
election, he won northern states that
hadnt voted Republican in decades.
Throughout the campaign Trump
consistently won majority support
from white men, a demographic group
accustomed to dominating US political
life since the countrys founding. Many
of them, as the election showed, remain
deeply unsettled by the erosion of
their long-unquestioned supremacy:
exit polls showed white men favouring
Trump over Clinton by two to one,
a stunning margin, considering that
Clinton actually carried the overall
News organisations may have been reluctant to spotlight national popular vote.
That white male anger is not likely
pro-Trump activists of the racist right, not wanting to make to dissipate, even with the victory
them appear more influential than they objectively were. But of their chosen candidate. Activists
Trump has now brought these once-marginal forces into a on the bigoted right will continue to
try to exploit these resentments and
governing national coalition, one which not only questions make further inroads into mainstream
legal protections against racial and religious discrimination electoral politics.
Journalists have a responsibility to
but actively condones hate speech. take this very seriously, to track and
expose groups and news sites that
promote and exacerbate prejudice and
race-based grievances while professing
David Duke, a former grand wizard anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and/or allegiance to the next president, while
of the Ku Klux Klan, who had been misogynist. This was no oversight: his also forcing Trump and his advisors to
roundly condemned by national success in securing the Republican state on the record whether they accept
Republican leaders as he courted their nomination and then victory in the such support.
voters in his previous campaigns for election showed that those views are News organisations may have been
state and federal office. In 2016 he ran shared or at least tolerated by large reluctant during the campaign to
again, as an independent Louisiana segments of the electorate. spotlight pro-Trump activists of the
candidate for the Senate and a vocal Moreover, the mainstream media racist right, not wanting to make them
advocate for Trump. that Trump lambasted was largely appear more influential than they
responsible for that unexpected success. objectively were. But Trump has now
Early in his campaign, Trump refused to His crude daily attacks on women and brought these once-marginal forces
disavow Dukes support, disingenuously minorities created a ratings bonanza into a governing national coalition,
professing unfamiliarity with both Duke for the cable news networks, which one which not only questions legal
and the KKK. He later backtracked, broadcast his unscripted speeches live protections against racial and religious
claiming microphone problems and and at length, over an entire year, a discrimination but actively condones
saying he did disapprove of the Klan. favour not given to other candidates. hate speech.
Duke campaigned for Trump for months Outbreaks of violence and Trumps This has all the makings of an
afterward, without drawing any public threats against protestors perversely unprecedented political and perhaps
rebuke from him. Not until late August legitimised the disproportionate constitutional crisis. The ethical
did the Trump campaign publicly coverage of his rallies, which the guideline for journalists in the months
condemn and disavow him. networks could claim were breaking and years ahead is perhaps best summed
Trump complained that he and his news events. up in the hashtag now frequently
voters were caricatured in the media as Trump boasted, correctly, that in attached to news tweets about president-
sexist, as racists, as xenophobes. Yet contrast to his rivals, he did not have elect Trump: #NotNormal.
he never directly rebuked supporters to pay for television advertising. The
who were vociferously anti-black, New York Times estimated in March Bill Orme / bill.orme@gmail.com

Media Lies and Brexit
A Double Hammer-Blow to Europe and
Ethical Journalism
Gareth Harding
E
ver since it joined the European Union in 1973 Britain has had the most
eurosceptic press in the Brussels-based club. Its two top-selling papers,
The Sun and the Daily Mail, are rabidly anti-EU, reporting on its affairs
with a mixture of hostility, mockery and contempt.
When former European Commission President Jacques Delors had the temerity to propose a single
currency in 1990, The Sun screamed Up Yours Delors on its front page accompanied by a two-
fingered salute to the French fool. In 2003 the Daily Mail described a draft EU constitution as a
blueprint for tyranny. And in 2011 the same paper warned that Germany was turning Europe into
a Fourth Reich.
The Daily Telegraph, the fourth best-selling paper in the UK, feeds its readers a daily diet of
negative news about the European Union, while the sixth biggest the Daily Express has led a
crusade against British membership. Typical headlines include EU brainwash our children, Now
EU Wants to Ban our Kettles and Get Britain out of the EU.
Due to strict impartiality guidelines, On 8 March, The Sun ran a front-page June was What does it mean to leave the
British TV reporting is fairer. But even story with the headline Queen Backs EU, followed by What is the EU?
the BBC broadcasts more negatively Brexit based purely on anonymous Many British journalists also display
than positively. An April 2016 report sources. After Buckingham Palace ignorance of the EUs workings either
by Zurich-based analysts Media lodged a complaint, Britains press because they lack basic information
Tenor concluded that only 7% of BBC watchdog IPSO judged the headline about its decision-making procedures
coverage of the EU was positive and 45% was significantly misleading and or because it serves their mission to
negative. It also found that the tone of not backed up by the text. On 15 June, discredit it by cutting corners on facts.
coverage was more negative than that the Daily Mail published a front-page In October 2011 the Daily Mail
about Russian and Chinese strongmen story showing migrants getting out published a story repeated by the
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Even of a lorry in Britain with the headline Express and the Telegraph on how
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad received Were from Europe, let us in. However, EU bureaucrats have banned children
more positive mentions than the EU. police footage clearly showed the under 8 from blowing up balloons
The study also looked at the quantity migrants saying they were from Iraq and because they might hurt themselves.
of coverage from 2001-16 and found Kuwait. In both cases the newspapers The article is typical of lazy, error-
the EU accounted for just 1.5% of published small corrections on inside strewn British reporting about the EU.
stories on the flagship News at Ten in pages. But by then the false stories had For a start, it refers to a new directive
12 of those 16 years. As the referendum become ingrained in the collective when this was a draft text. Second,
approached, coverage became more consciousness of readers. bureaucrats dont make EU laws the
intense and more positive. However, the It is easier for the UK media to get Commission proposes them and the
study concluded that reporting about away with publishing untruths and European Parliament and Council of
the advantages of EU membership has half-truths about the EU because the the EU pass them. So there was no new
come too late and will not convince a British public knows less about it than directive and certainly no ban the
public that has been accustomed to EU do citizens of any other country bar Commission merely recommended
bashing. Latvia. Asked by pollsters whether children under eight be accompanied by
It was indeed too late and on 23 three simple statements about the EU an adult when blowing up balloons in
June 2016 British voters opted to were true or false only 28% of Brits case they choked.
leave the EU by a slim majority after a answered correctly. Indeed, one of the A whole industry has sprouted to
referendum campaign that will be best most revealing signs of British voters produce these largely fabricated
remembered for the lies told by leading ignorance was the fact that the most- stories about the EUs bullying and
campaigners. searched EU question on Google on 24 nannying. In his submission to the
Leveson enquiry on the British press in
November 2011, Labours former UK
government communications chief
Alastair Campbell said: At various times,
readers of UK papers may have read
that Europe or Brussels or the EU
superstate has banned, or is intending
to ban kilts, curries, mushy peas, paper
rounds, Caerphilly cheese, charity shops,
bulldogs, bent sausages and cucumbers,
the British Army, lollipop ladies, British
loaves, British-made lavatories, the
passport crest, lorry drivers who wear
glasses and many more.
The European Commissions
representation to the UK even has a
separate section of its site dedicated to
these euromyths. The problem is, these
stories are sticky and rapidly become
shorthand for Brussels bossiness. And,
as many studies have shown, rebutting
dubious claims or downright lies only
serves to draw attention to the untruth
rather than debunk it.
It is hard to disagree with Lord Justice
Levesons claim that when it comes to
A whole industry has sprouted to produce these largely the EU, there is certainly clear evidence
fabricated stories about the EUs bullying and nannying. of misreporting. However, most Brits
The European Commissions representation to the UK even get their news from the TV, internet
and social media, not newspapers.
has a separate section of its site dedicated to these euromyths. Added to this, the British press tends
to over-exaggerate its importance and

The duty of journalists in this post-truth environment is the same as it has always been to
separate lies from facts, to inform readers as honestly as possible and to aim at the closest
approximation of the truth.
influence. In 1992 The Sun had over 3.5 over buses and billboards that We Journalists in this position should
million readers. Now it has less than send the EU 350 million a week. We ask themselves am I enlightening my
1.8 million. British people also expect dont, the BBC bluntly replied, pointing audience or obfuscating the truth,
their newspapers to be unreliable. A out that the money the UK gets back allowing them to make a free choice
2015 Eurobarometer opinion poll found from Brussels is 161 million. Despite or pumping propaganda down their
that 73% said they did not trust their its close links to the Remain campaign, throats, and working in the interests of
newspapers the highest percentage in the pro-EU InFacts website also did the readers and viewers who ultimately
the EU. Finally, the link between media valuable work in puncturing the myths pay my wages or for owners whose
ownership and political influence is propagated by both sides. primary loyalty is to shareholders?
often overblown. The Mail on Sunday Fact-checking has become more So how can journalists improve
came out in favour of Remain, despite difficult in a world in which politicians reporting of the EU to make it fairer,
its owner being ferociously anti-EU. lie so brazenly. One of the Leave more honest and more accurate?
Likewise, The Times backed Britain campaigns whoppers was a billboard First, understand how it works. If you
staying in despite having the same screaming Turkey (population 76 dont know the difference between the
proprietor, Rupert Murdoch, as The Sun. million) is joining the EU despite European Council, Council of Europe
Coverage of the Brexit campaign negotiations barely crawling along and Council of the EU, its time to start
was often shrill and shallow. But the and no expert, whether in Turkey or studying.
referendum was not all grim news the EU, expecting membership in the Second, dont be lazy. If one MEP
for quality journalism. Much of the foreseeable future. opines about an issue, that does not
reporting in the Guardian, Times and The duty of journalists in this post- mean it is the position of the European
Financial Times was balanced and even truth environment is the same as it Parliament. And if the Commission
the pro-Brexit Telegraph published has always been to separate lies from drafts a proposal, that doesnt mean the
commentaries by Remain backers. Sky facts, to inform readers as honestly EU has decided anything.
News Political Editor Faisal Islam won as possible and to aim at the closest Third, blurring opinion and
plaudits from the media by putting approximation of the truth. Inventing commentary rarely enlightens readers
Prime Minister David Cameron and or doctoring stories to fit the political and viewers. So avoid pejorative
leading Leave campaigner Michael Gove lines of media outlets, as often happens descriptions of EU officials as barmy
on the spot in a 20-minute primetime with EU coverage, is an abdication of Brussels bureaucrats and shrill headlines
interview he spent a week researching basic journalist ethics. It also blurs that are better suited to political
and rehearsing. the line between public relations pamphlets than newspaper articles.
The referendum was also notable for and journalism to the extent that Finally, dont lie or feel the need to
the proliferation of fact-checking sites the two become indistinguishable. repeat the lies of lying politicians.
analysing claims made by politicians. If your primary role as a reporter is A journalists job is to hold power to
The BBC devoted a whole section of its persuading readers or viewers to back account, not flatter those who wield it.
site to a Reality Check aimed at getting a certain position, whether keeping It is to question untruths rather than
to the facts behind the claims in the migrants out of the UK or the UK out parade them as facts. And it is to report
EU referendum campaign and beyond. of the EU or both, you are no longer as honestly as humanly possible rather
For example, it looked into the Leave doing journalism; you are doing than indulge in political grandstanding
camps controversial claim plastered communication. or public relations.
Fake News
Facebook and Matters of

Fact in the Post-Truth Era
Aidan White
In 2016 media learned the hard way that of the Establishment elite, and unable to properly
journalism is in danger of being overwhelmed by connect with the frustration and anger of people
rogue politics and a communications revolution and communities.
that accelerates the spread of lies, misinformation But singling out convenient scapegoats does
and dubious claims. little to explain why, in the face of evidence to the
contrary, a major section of the public, both in the
According to many observers two major stories United Kingdom and the United States, appeared
Brexit and the election of Donald Trump signal a not to care about the deceit, bigotry and shameless
moment of peril for the press, and media around the bias of their political leaders.
world are deeply alarmed. They didnt take much notice of what mainstream
The free circulation of malicious lies, the media had to say. In the US, according to Harvard
ineffectiveness of fact-checking, the resilience of Universitys Nieman Lab, some 360 newspapers
populist propaganda, racism and sexism and the urged their readers to vote for Hillary Clinton with
emergence of the so-called post-truth era appear only 11 supporting Trump. Nor did they appear to
to challenge a fundamental cornerstone of ethical worry about the facts. According to Daniel Dale, a
journalism that facts matter for democracy and meticulous reporter from the Toronto Star, Donald
that people want to be well-informed when called Trump told an average 20 lies a day between 15
upon to make potentially life-changing decisions. September and election day.
In the last months of 2016 media executives and If the public did really care about the spread of
leading journalists, policy-makers and media falsehoods, they could have used the internet to check
academics have been scratching their heads to quickly the claims of politicians and expose their lies.
explain what has gone wrong. In the months after the British referendum and during
Some have rushed to blame technology and the the brutal months of the US presidential election
bottom-line priorities of internet and social media scores of fact-checking sites became available online.
giants such as Google, Facebook and Twitter for the But even this flowering of truth-telling machines had
crisis. Others point to the medias own failures a little impact, according to a detailed review of media
deeply-flawed and politicised press and broadcast performance during the Trump election carried out by
system stuck in a metropolitan bubble, itself part the Guardian and the Columbia Journalism Review.

What is clear is that the news earthquake of 2016 If they were ready to invest in technology and people
provides much to discuss for people concerned about to moderate their feeds they could have avoided
the future of democracy and the future of journalism. news stories such as FBI Agent Suspected in
The warning signs of a communication crisis have Hillary Email Leaks Found Dead in Apparent Murder-
been flashing for some time. In September 2016 there Suicide or Pope Francis Shocks World, Endorses
was fierce criticism of Facebook by a Norwegian editor Donald Trump for President.
over its censorship of one of the most famous images The problem for Facebook is two-fold: first, it
of the Vietnam war that led to a rare moment of global refuses to recognise that the use of algorithms
solidarity among outraged writers, journalists, media to monitor and edit material is no substitute for
experts and free-speech campaigners. employing people to edit and prepare news for
Espen Egil Hansen used the front page of the publication and, secondly, it refuses to acknowledge
Norwegian daily newspaper Aftenposten to publish that it is a publisher.
an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks The row over the Vietnam war photo reveals how
founder and chief executive, accusing his company sentient human beings are still needed to analyse,
of an abuse of power for removing the Pulitzer prize- to apply context and to make nuanced judgments
winning photograph showing children fleeing a over what gets published. In journalism not all
napalm attack in Vietnam. nudity is indecent, not all images of violence are
Within a day Facebook backed down, reinstated damaging and not all hateful words unacceptable.
the photo and promised to discuss the matter with It all depends upon the context. Editorial decisions
publishers. On the face of it this was an isolated need to be made by people who understand notions
storm over the use of just one picture, but it touched of public interest and who have an understanding of
a raw nerve in journalism worldwide. It highlights the framework of values in which journalism works.
the increasing controversy over the imperial power As the EJN wrote at the time, this framework of
of internet companies and the threat they pose to core ethics accuracy, impartiality, humanity,
the future of the news industry. transparency and accountability contributes to
The row underscores growing concern over how the fine tuning of editorial choice. Machines can
internet giants like Google and Facebook have do much but they cant be encoded with the ethical
grown rich by using technology to impoverish expertise of journalists.
traditional publishing and news media. Critics say Zuckerberg argues his social network is a tech
they have become powerful by exploiting news company and a platform but not a publisher.
through use of stealth technology, but they have However, many media experts strongly disagree.
little if any understanding or regard for the public They say he has become the worlds most
purpose of journalism. powerful editor, and with good reason. He leads a
This may explain why in the aftermath of the US business worth around $325bn the worlds sixth
presidential election the issue of fake news on the largest company. It is a Goliath in the world of
internet created a firestorm in media circles. For news in social media. Studies show that these days
months before Donald Trumps election critics more than 50% of people get their news from social
accused Facebook of allowing false and hoax news media and in the United States it is more than 60%
stories to spread freely across their news feeds. according to the Pew Research Center.
It even led to an internal rebellion. A group of Facebook would do well to stop denying it is a
Facebook staff, according to The Guardian, created publisher and face up to its responsibility as a
an unofficial task force to question the role of the news provider. It needs to recognise and apply the
company amid a larger, national debate over the rise principles and core standards of journalism and free
of fake and misleading news articles on a platform. expression that have guided the work of journalists,
Facebook is used by more than 150 million editors and publishers for generations.
Americans and the unofficial task force challenged a It can best do that, say media experts, by giving
statement made by Mark Zuckerberg at a conference editors of news media a voice in making the decisions
immediately after the election in which he said that about how they use the platform and by employing its
the argument that fake news on Facebook affected own team of editors to work with professional media
the election was a pretty crazy idea. to resolve disputes when they arise.
One employee told the news website BuzzFeed: Its The lack of transparency in the way Facebook and
not a crazy idea. Whats crazy is for him to come out other social networks and internet companies work
and dismiss it like that, when he knows, and those of makes it hard for them to be held accountable. Only
us at the company know, that fake news ran wild on the leaking of documents by former employees
our platform during the entire campaign season. has cast some light on the inside workings of the
Although the notion that hyper-partisan websites company as highlighted by the EJN earlier this year.
spreading false and misleading information tilted the This raises a question over who is held
election towards Trump may be fanciful, companies accountable for the companys treatment of news.
like Facebook have the tools to shut down fake news. All that is certain is that Facebook is creating,
editorial content, reflecting their unrivalled power
and influence in distributing news.
A major concern remains that fake or misleading
news can spread like wildfire on social networks
because of confirmation bias, the use of likes and
sharing with our friends. This exploits an element of
human psychology that makes us more likely to accept
information that conforms to our existing world views.
An analysis by BuzzFeed News found that 38% of posts
shared on Facebook by three right-wing politics sites
included false or misleading information.
This process is encouraged by the financial model
used by Facebook and others. A United States
Facebook user is worth four times a user outside the
US and the tiny fraction of cash income per-click
of US display advertising a sharply declining
market for American publishers can mean riches
for impoverished people elsewhere. In the Western
Balkans, for instance, according to BuzzFeed
News, some young men found that the best way
to generate traffic to their politics stories is to use
The problem for Facebook is two- Facebook to target Trump supporters and the best
fold: first, it refuses to recognise way to generate shares on Facebook is to publish
that the use of algorithms to monitor sensationalist and false content.
But the problem for journalists is not just the rise of
and edit material is no substitute the internet behemoths and the impact of technology.
for employing people to edit and The crisis they face is that news in its traditional
formats has become unfashionable, and that the
prepare news for publication and, media business no longer makes money out of news.
secondly, it refuses to acknowledge The communications revolution provides people
with different ways to access information and they
that it is a publisher. create their own filters for information they like
or dont like. For around 150 years newspapers
controlled news and advertising markets, but digital
above all, a platform that will attract advertisers. It technology has changed everything. Display and
appears to have no interest in building a reputation classified advertising have moved online and so far no
in the news business. convincing solution has been found to the problem of
Its a point also made by Norwegian prime minister, filling the ever-widening gaps in editorial budgets.
Erna Solberg, herself censored by Facebook for In the face of this crisis media have made
circulating the napalm photo. Writing in The lacerating cuts in their editorial coverage. News
Guardian she said the companys action was not gathering has become a desk-bound process. There
transparent and responsible behaviour. Facebook is less money spent on investigative journalism and
had ended up altering history, and altering the investment in human resources decent jobs and
truth. And she warned of the threat to democracy training is falling.
and free flow of information. As a result, media increasingly follow the agenda
Already, Facebook and other media outlets of political and corporate elites and there is a dearth
algorithms narrow the range of content one sees of journalism that holds power to account. This may
based on past preferences and interests. This limits explain in part why some mainstream media have
the kind of stories one sees, she warned. We run become disconnected from their audience.
the risk of creating parallel societies in which some How media rebuilds public trust in quality
people are not aware of the real issues facing the journalism will be a major question in the coming
world, and this is only exacerbated by such editorial years, and not just for academics and students of
oversight. As we move towards a more automated mass communication. The information crisis is one
world this is not a responsibility that should be that touches on the prospects for democracy. The
surrendered to machines only. rise of propaganda, hate-speech and self-regarding
Change, albeit at a glacial pace, is on the way. Both politics with an extremist edge threatens stability
Google and Facebook have promised action to limit and peace both within countries and abroad.
the spread of false news, but other issues remain People have not given up on fact-based
and there is increased scrutiny of their treatment of communications but they are sceptical about how

media online and offline are delivering their reporting that reaches out to their audience and
messages. In times of crisis and uncertainty they listens to what is being said and reports it in context.
turn to voices that echo their concerns and fears, Solutions have to be found to the crisis of
even if they are strident and divisive. Media have funding for public interest journalism. It requires
lessons to learn from the bruising experience of political will to invest in open, connected and
2016, not least that they must be honest, fair and pluralist systems of communication. There needs
aggressive in their coverage of politics, but never lose to be more investment in quality information and
sight of their audience. actions to combat hatred, racism and intolerance;
The challenge of the coming years will be to more resources for investigative reporting; more
reinvigorate the public purpose of journalism and attachment to ethical values in the management and
to assist media to reconnect with citizens more governance of media; and, not least, more training
effectively. This existential crisis requires, above in the value of other-regarding communications
all, for journalists to recommit to their craft with within the population at large.
Tips for Exposing Fake News

Since the American election two of the worlds biggest internet companies have decided to
crack down on fake news. Google says it will ban from its online advertising service websites
that peddle it and Facebook says it has added fake news to its policy regarding advertising on
sites that show misleading or illegal content. Taken together, these decisions are a clear signal
that internet publishers are waking up to the dangers of misinformation online.
Journalists know that theres nothing new about the problem of fake news. Deceptive,
unverified, and error-filled reporting has always been with us, but the scourge has grown in the
wake of technology that has helped shape a new world of clickbait, viral communications and
confirmation bias.
Journalists should follow some simple ground rules to make sure they dont become victims
of slippery stories published online. Here are some starter tips:
Use fact-checking web sites. Most reputable media already double-check everything that
arrives in their inboxes but now freelance journalists and small-scale media can get help
from a rapidly-expanding community of online fact-checkers. Sites such as factcheck.org in
the United States or the UKs fullfact.org, for instance.
Watch out for websites with odd names. Strange domain names or sites that end in .com.co
for instance are often fake versions of real news sources.
Check the About Us box on the website. Worry if there isnt one and check the provider
with Wikipedia.
Beware of stories not being reported elsewhere. A shocking, outrageous or surprising
event will have another source. If it doesnt, be suspicious.
Be wary if there is no attribution for an author or source. Thats sometimes justified, but
should be explained and, if not, dont trust it.
Check the date. One favourite trick of news fakers is to repackage old stories. They may
have been accurate but used out of time and out of context they may become malicious
falsehoods.
Finally, remember that theres such a thing as satire. Not all fakery is malicious. It can
even be entertaining and may come from reputable sources of journalism. Private Eye,
Britains leading satirical news magazine, for instance, has done some great fact-based
investigative journalism alongside occasionally amusing spoof editorial content, but found
itself on a list of fake-news sites circulated when the misinformation panic set in after the
Trump election.
Refugee Images
Ethics in the Picture
Misja Pekel and Maud van de Reijt
W
hat decisions are made before photographs of refugees and war
victims appear in our newspapers, or as video and stills on our
computers, mobiles and television screens? Should journalists be
more critical when publishing and interpreting such pictures? These were
among the questions we explored in our documentary Sea of Images.
Specifically, we looked at the editorial process for publishing the image of Aylan Kurdi, the toddler
whose body was found on the shores of Bodrum in Turkey. This and other pictures used in telling the
refugee and migration story have stirred up discussion in editorial offices everywhere, but what have
been the dilemmas faced by photo-editors and other journalists and what lessons have we learnt?
The first and trickiest question is, to publish or not to publish? Within 12 hours the image of Aylan
Kurdi taken on 2 September 2015 reached 20 billion screens via social media.

The next day it was on front pages worldwide. The refugee a day later. Nicolas Jiminez, photo editor-in-chief stated:
crisis, which until that moment had mainly been expressed During the evening the photos became major news. I received
in numbers and figures, suddenly had a human face people them ... during the whole day via social media. Also from friends
could relate to. Politicians referred to the picture in national and family to such a point you cant ignore it anymore.
parliaments. Advocates and opponents of a more generous Social media were also a crucial factor at Trouw. Its photo
asylum policy tried to embrace it as a symbol. Nevertheless, the editors had spotted the images at an early stage but had put
publication was controversial: readers immediately questioned them aside. When colleagues pointed out that they were
whether or not it was appropriate to publish images of such a circulating continuously on Twitter, the photo editors started
young, dead victim. to be convinced they could not ignore them. After a discussion
Media felt they needed to justify their choice. Editorial with the editor-in-chief, Aylan was put on the front page
comments on the process were legion. Journalists interviewed accompanied by background information on his journey and
colleagues about their concerns. Although the photo was referring to the fact the photos went viral. For the editor-in-
widely shared online, publishing in traditional media stirred chief, the text was an essential condition for publication. It
up emotions. Was it permissible to print photos of such a served to give the reader some indispensable context.
young child who had just died? Wasnt that bad taste, from For the Dutch newspaper Het Algemeen Dagblad, the lack
the viewpoint of the boys family and the readers who saw of context and background information was a reason not
their newspaper at breakfast? Refugees die at sea every day, so to publish the day after they appeared online. According to
why publish this particular photo? Heres what some editorial editor-in-chief Christiaan Ruesink: Paper is different from
offices said about their considerations. online. More contemplative, it needs more context. However,
when the images became so widespread, Ruesink felt he
The Beauty of Horror needed to apologise to his readers. And the newspaper felt the
need to print the pictures after all.
A day after the photo went viral, Serge Ricco, art director of In hindsight, for some editorial offices the fact the images
French magazine LObs, decided he would not publish it. were shared so much online legitimised publishing them. Not
Surprisingly, LObs did publish it on their website. Not my just the photos themselves, but the collective urge to share
decision, Ricco said to Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad. them became news, resulting in some editors diverging from
Im thinking of the dignity of the child. Moreover, this photo their own ethical views.
will not change the course of history in any way. However,
many editors used this same argument to justify publication.
LObs had a point. Less than a week before, the inboxes of Balancing Interests
photo editors worldwide were bombarded with pictures of seven The fact a photo goes viral does not release journalists from
young drowned children on the Libyan coast. Most newspapers making ethical choices. But to what extent do journalistic
did not publish them. Facebook even censored a photo album imperatives weigh against interests such as privacy of the
created by Syrian artist Khaled Barakeh. Why was the response subject or respect for family members? Amol Rajan, Editor-at-
to Aylans photo, three days later, so completely different? large of Londons The Independent, wrote that different aspects
The answer has to do with aesthetics. The pictures of the had been thoroughly discussed in his editorial room. However,
Libyan children are horrific. Their clothes have shifted. journalistic interests prevailed: It was to shock the world into
Their bodies are evidently lifeless. There is no doubt about action, to improve refugee policy and to put pressure on a prime
the state these victims are in. Apparently, to show horrific minister whose behaviour in this crisis has been embarrassing.
events, we need a touch of beauty. Ironic? According to Aidan Shocking the audience could be considered one task of
White, Director of the Ethical Journalism Network, its clear as journalism, but there are limits, as could be concluded
daylight: We need aesthetic in pictures as much as we need from a ruling by the Presserat, an Austrian independent
good language in use of words. organisation set up by print media to investigate journalistic
The photo editor of the Dutch newspaper Trouw put it issues. On 27 August 2015, five days before Aylan was found,
this way: Before, we only saw pictures of decayed bodies. 71 people were found dead in a lorry. The incident was major
These you simply do not show. Aylans photo was the first news. But there was one problem: there were no images that
one that made you wonder: is he asleep or is he dead? That told the story very well only pictures of policemen. Words
is why we thought it was reasonable to print this picture. A had to do the talking, as Fiona Shields, photo-editor at the
bold decision, for this newspaper is usually very reluctant to Guardian, put it. That is, until Die Neue Kronen Zeitung,
show death on its front page. In 2002, it was the only Dutch the largest Austrian newspaper, published an uncensored
newspaper that, for ethical reasons, did not print the photo of photo of the dead bodies. The Presserat ruled that the photo
a dead Pim Fortuyn, the murdered Dutch populist politician. conflicted with ethical codes. The bodies were shown in such
Apparently, there must have been special circumstances positions that the newspaper did not respect the human
indeed to publish Aylans photo. dignity of the deceased.
Publishing comes with responsibilities. This became
Social Media and the Rush to Publish painfully clear when the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant
published an article about terrorism. On its front page the
Social media played an important role. Their omnipresence newspaper carried a photo of a man of middle-eastern
online influenced decision-making in traditional editorial appearance driving a car being stopped by military policemen
offices. The question can even be raised whether journalists at Schiphol Airport. The accompanying text read, Is Schiphol
published the pictures because they wanted to do so themselves, still safe? After seeing this, the subject claimed he was being
or because they felt under pressure. For Le Monde the photos of associated unfairly with Muslim terrorism. He complained to
Aylan came in too late for that days paper. They were published the editorial office and started a lawsuit.
Mural of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi by Justus Becker and Oguz Sen in Frankfurt. Photograph: Frank C. Mller licensed under CC BY 4.0
According to De Volkskrant Editor-in-chief Philippe Should they have been more aware of the consequences of
Remarque, the picture merely illustrated tougher security using Aylans image? Would it have helped if from the start
controls, which meant people of possible Muslim appearance more background information on Aylans journey and family
were likely to be checked. He argued that the man in the had been given?
picture represented a random traveller, not a suspect. The photo of the traumatised and dust-covered five-
Nevertheless, a judge ruled that the combination of the photo year-old Omran Daqneesh, taken in an ambulance after a
and text was a violation of privacy. It gave the impression that bombardment in Aleppo, raises similar questions. Just like
the man pictured was somehow related to Schiphols safety. Aylans, this image went viral, after which many newspapers
Financial compensation was justified. decided to publish it. And just as in Aylans case, different
This case shows journalists have to think about the meanings and views were ascribed to the photo. Chinese state
implications of what they publish. In the case of photos, it also television suspected it was fake. The Russian government
means thinking about consequences for the people portrayed. talked of propaganda. It was even rumoured that Mahmoud
Raslan, who took the photo, supported suicide bombers.
What might be important here is that the photo was not
The Importance of Context published by an independent press agency, like the photo of
According to Vaughn Wallace, former photo editor at Al Jazeera, Aylan, but by the Aleppo Media Centre: a group of activists
it is important to look past the image when refugees are who report on the atrocities of the Syrian government. Even
involved. Their stories dont end just where the photograph though it is almost impossible for western journalists to report
is taken. So it is important to me to look for images that from the ground in Aleppo, and using such material is the only
help promote the dignity of the subjects beyond even the way to show whats going on there, that the photo was taken by
photograph. However, it is questionable whether it is possible activists weakens its authority. By questioning the authority of
to take all consequences of publication into account. the photographer, the photo itself is also questioned.
Aylan, for example, became a symbol used by politicians, Again, context determines how to value a photo, context that,
artists and activists alike. His image was used to support a in a digital age, needs to be examined again and again. The
variety of different opinions and views. Everybody fights over work of a journalist does not stop when the photo is taken and
iconic images. And in the end they perhaps lose their original published. Providing context is equally important. Editorial
meaning. It is the same with people running around with Che offices need to ask themselves whether or not there is enough
Guevara T-shirts as a symbol, rather than understanding who information to interpret what they see in the image.
Che Guevara was, says Peter Bouckaert, Emergencies Director To what extent do journalistic interests weigh against other
at Human Rights Watch and one of the first people to share interests, such as privacy and dignity of the portrayed persons
Aylans image on social media. and their families?
Aylans family were victims of a fight over an iconic image, Is it justified to publish a sensitive photo just because it
as Bouckaert describes. The father, Abdullah Kurdi, found is aesthetically attractive? In cases like those above, it is of
out first-hand how powerful a symbol his son became. He utter importance that journalists stick to the facts and give
became a political pawn and was invited to visit by Turkeys background information,
President Erdoan, as well as by the Iraqi Kurds and rebels in Furthermore, journalists should ask themselves why they
Syria fighting ISIS. Abdullah even saw his dead son portrayed publish certain photographs. An image going viral does not
on banners and posters. Could journalists have foreseen this? release any of us from ethical choices.

FIve point guide for
migration reporting
1 Facts not bias

Are we accurate and have we been
impartial, inclusive and fact-based in
our reporting?
Are we acting independently from
narratives that stem from politics and
emotion rather than facts?
Are we fairly and transparently
reporting the impact of migration on
communities?
2 Know the law 3 Show humanity

Asylum seeker? Refugee? Victim of trafficking? Humanity is at the essence of ethical
Migrant worker? Do we use irregular journalism. But we must keep our
migrant? Do we understand and use migrant emotions in check, avoid victimisation,
definitions correctly and do we articulate to over-simplification and the framing
our audience the rights migrants are due under of coverage in a narrow humanitarian
international, regional and national law? context that takes no account of the
bigger picture.
4 Speak for all

Do we have migrant voices? Are we listening to
the communities they are passing through or 5 Challenge hate
joining? Question how representative self-appointed Have we avoided extremism? Have
community and migrant spokespeople really are. we taken the time to judge whether
inflammatory content about migrants
or those who seek to limit migration
can lead to hatred? Words like swarms,
floods and waves should be treated
with caution, as should indiscriminate
use of racism and xenophobia.
The Perfect Source
Edward Snowden, a Role Model for
Whistleblowers and Journalists Everywhere
Ewen MacAskill
H
e was sitting in a cramped hotel room in Hong Kong. It was early
morning,his bed rumpled, the remains of dinner congealing on a side
table.He was Edward Snowden and he turned out to be the perfect source.
Top secret documents leaked by the former US intelligence officer became one of the biggest stories
of the decade. It was clearly in the public interest, starting a world-wide debate about the scale of
US and British government surveillance. And it led to legislative change in the US, the 2015 Freedom
Act that curtailed, albeit in a modest way, the bulk collection of phone data in America.

The story won lots of journalistic The biggest and most awkward issue The question of anonymity with
awards, including a Pulitzer prize. A when dealing with sources is usually Snowden barely arose. We discussed it
story for the digital age, it inspired anonymity. A source might be a friendly with him but he said from the outset
several plays in London and New York, press officer offering up more information that he would identify himself at some
an Oscar-winning documentary and a than they are authorised to do, or an point. Even if he had wanted to remain
Hollywood film released last year. employee deep within an organisation anonymous, it would not have been
What helped make Snowden a perfect who has spotted wrongdoing. In both practically possible. He had left a clear
source is that he is self-effacing, cases, they could lose their jobs if trail to Hong Kong that would not have
motivated neither by money nor fame. identified. There are other stories that are taken long to find when the first stories
It made it difficult for the US and British riskier for the source, with the prospect of appeared.
governments to demonise him. Sources jail or even loss of life. What we needed in the first week was
that are shifty, politically motivated, There are other, less principled security. And that meant an instant
looking for money or disgruntled at motives for leaking; perhaps a personal immersion for me into the world of
being passed over for promotion are grudge or for political advantage, and digital security and encryption. If
easier to discredit. that can be awkward. I was offered Snowden has a lasting legacy beyond
What rounded out the perfect source a negative story about an opposing the surveillance v privacy debate, it
scenario is that the outcome for him candidate by one of the campaign teams is that there is much more awareness
turned out to be a lot happier than during the 2008 Obama-Clinton fight for now among the public, but especially
he had anticipatedin Hong Kong. the Democrat presidential nomination. among journalists, about security of
He enjoys relative freedom in exile in Anonymity was demanded. I turned it communications. More and more
Moscow; not a perfect existence but down, partly because the story did not journalists are shifting to encrypted
preferable to idling away the decades in feel that strong and partly because I felt communication.
a US supermax prison. queasy being used in this way. I did a story last year about a suspected
So all good? Not quite. He did not feel I did a similar story about a decade case of Chinese industrial espionage
like a perfect source at the time. Crammed earlier as part of a Guardian team that in the UK. I communicated with the
into his room in the Mira Hotel with him brought down a UK Cabinet minister. source through encrypted chat from
were filmmaker and journalist Laura That too was politically motivated. The beginning to end, with only one face-
Poitras, then Guardian columnist Glenn difference is that the UK story seemed to-face meeting. There were no phone
Greenwald and myself, a Guardian definitely to be in the public interest. It calls and no emails. The source remains
reporter. There were a lot of uncertainties. is a fine distinction. anonymous.
There is no template for dealing with
sources. Each one is different. And
Snowden was very different, the story
outside anything I had experienced
before. There are some things that with
hindsight I did not handle well.
Read any textbook on journalism
or guidelines about the relationship
between journalists and their sources
and two key points are always made.
The first is that journalists have an
obligation to protect source anonymity.
The second is that they also have to
protectconfidential information or data
provided by a source. But the reality,
as we found in the Mira Hotel, is often
much more complex, throwing up many
more issues than just these two.
On first meeting Snowden, the priority
was to establish that he was who he said
he was. Normally, a few discreet inquiries
should help establish an identity. But
we could not do that. We had to rely on
interviewing him. He sounded plausible,
trustworthy and the documents looked
real. A lot of it came down to instinct.
In the end though, I only knew for sure Top secret documents leaked by the former US
when the White House, just hours before
publication, effectively confirmed the intelligence officer became one of the biggest stories of
first of the documents was real. the decade What helped make Snowden perfect is that
he is self-effacing, motivated neither by money nor fame.
Image right: Snowden Eyes by Thierry
Ehrmann licensed under CC BY 2.0
Once a source hands over documents, accusations of aiding a wanted man. a safer option than a return to the US,
who has ownership the journalist I do not fancy going to jail but I have albeit probably just as unlikely.
or the source? It can be tricky. With always accepted it as an occupational I have always tried to treat sources as
Snowden it was easy. He says he handed hazard. The Guardian in the end said decently as I can. I have been as honest
over all the documents he had to the it would help if needed with hotel with themas I can be, keeping them
journalists in Hong Kong and no longer bills and legal fees. At that time, the informed each step of the way towards
has any access to them. It was for the assumption was that he would remain publication.
journalists to decide what was the story, in Hong Kong and fight extradition. Some of the stories I am proudest
he said. We will not hand them back to At that point WikiLeaks founder Julian of are ones I have not published. I
the US or British governments, not least Assange, who had not been involved repeatedly warned a couple in Syria
because if Snowden was ever to come to in the story,intervened. He sent a working for an illegal underground
trial in the US, the documents might be WikiLeaks colleague Sarah Harrison to opposition group, long before the
used against him. Hong Kong and she helped organise present civil war, that they were
The regret I have about Snowden was the flight that ended prematurely in endangering their lives and that of their
what happened after he disappeared Russia. It turned out for the best: there daughter if their story was published.
from the Mira and went into hiding. I is nowhere else in the world where On the eve of publication, with the story
have always believed that journalists Snowden would be safe from the US, at edited and ready to run, they phoned to
obligations to a source go well beyond least for now. say they had changed their minds and
just providing anonymity and protection There is a risk of journalists becoming asked me not to use it. I killed it.
of documents. There is a duty of care. too close to sources, losing objectivity I always hope that a source will feel at
A few days after I had met Snowden, and becoming advocates. When writing the end that he or she was fairly treated
Laura Poitras asked me what plans, if for the Guardian about Snowden I have and does not come away thinking it
any, the Guardian had for helping him tried to retain objectivity, which to me was a mistake to involve the media.
once his name became public. I had not means being as fair to all sides of an I have interviewed Snowden several
given it much thought and had no idea argument as possible. But I have been times since Hong Kong, including twice
how to handle it. The Guardian does not persuaded from the first days I met him in Moscow, and have asked him if he
pay for stories because of the risk that that the balance between surveillance felt the Guardian treated him well. He
information handed over to journalists and privacy has tilted too far in favour always hesitates, reflecting perhaps a
will be tainted if money, no matter how of surveillance. As long as Snowden is in sense that we could have done more to
innocently, as in the case of hotel bills Russia and as long as I am functioning support him after he went public, but in
or legal costs, is involved. If money was as a journalist, I will press for him to the end says he feels the Guardian did
handed over, we could also be open to be allowed to move to western Europe, well by him. I will settle for that.
There is a risk of journalists becoming too close to

sources, losing objectivity and becoming advocates.

Ethical Ground Rules
for Handling Sources
Aidan White
Good journalism is only ever as good as our sources instance if they are a young person or someone
of information. Most of those sources are personal, in vulnerable circumstances to ensure they
many are official, and some will be anonymous are aware of the potential consequences of
whistle-blowers. Together they provide reporters publication of the information they give?
with the lifeblood of their trade reliable, accurate Am I confident the source fully understands the
and truthful information. conditions of our interview and what I mean
by off-the-record, on background, not-for-
Journalists need to be as transparent as possible in attribution, or other labels?
their relations with sources. The news media have If a source asks for conditions before agreeing to
great power and people can be flattered when they an interview, what are my limits?
are approached by reporters without understanding
Would I pay for a sources expenses related to an
fully the risks to themselves and to others when they
interview? What legitimate costs could be paid?
come into the public eye. This is particularly true of
people caught up in humanitarian disasters, war or Would I agree to provide legal representation?
other traumatic events.
Journalists have to assess the vulnerability of Of paramount importance is the need for journalists
sources as well as their value as providers of to reassure sources that their identity will be
information. They have to explain the process of protected. But often this is easier said than done.
their journalism and why they are covering the story. Protection of sources is well recognised in
They should not, except in the most extraordinary international law as a key principle underpinning
circumstances, use subterfuge or deception in their press freedom. It has been specifically recognised by
dealings with sources. the United Nations and the Council of Europe.
Some questions that the ethical journalist will ask Journalists and news media should establish
in establishing good relations with a source include: guidelines and internal rules that help protect
sources. Reporters may benefit from a clause in their
Have I clarified with my source the basis of our contracts or agreements that clearly states their
relations and have I been fully transparent about duties and obligations. National Public Radio in the
my intentions? United States has a clause in its guidelines that spells
Have I taken care to protect the source for it out:
Journalists must not turn over any notes, audio or Source Review of Content
working materials from their stories or productions,
nor provide information they have observed in the The issue of who controls the story the source or
course of their production activities to government the reporter comes up whenever copy approval is
officials or parties involved in or considering demanded, whether by high-profile and powerful
litigation. If such materials or information are figures or by sources themselves. It was a row at the
requested in the context of any governmental, heart of the falling out between WikiLeaks founder
administrative or other legal process this must be Julian Assange and some major media over the
reported to the company. handling of leaked official documents.
In many countries leading politicians and their
When faced with the decision to tell or not to tell in spin doctors simply refuse exclusive interviews
these circumstances, journalists must consider the unless they can sign off on the final article. In
impact of their actions and ask themselves some Germany, it is accepted practice, even within the
sharp questions: elite press, for journalists to submit the quotes they
Who will benefit if this source is revealed? plan to use to politicians and other public figures,
although most journalists claim they go along with
Who will suffer and who will lose?
this only for fact-checking and points of accuracy.
Will a criminal or powerful figure guilty of
malpractice escape justice? Given these conditions, journalists should ask
Is this a case where the police and other themselves:
investigating authorities are genuinely unable to Are there potential benefits to the accuracy of the
provide the required information? story in allowing a source to review portions or all
Will the work of other journalists and the of it in advance of publication? In particular, are
mission of media be compromised by revealing there technical aspects that might be clarified if
information? incorrect?
Will the public interest be served or not be served Are there potential pitfalls in doing so? Might the
by cooperation? source respond in a manner harmful to the story
or to others involved?
In the end, journalists have to make their own If the source wants to change something in the
decisions, based upon conscience and their own story, such as a quote, how will I respond?
responsibility, but revealing a source of information
is never to be taken lightly.
Anonymous Sources
Dont Get too Close to the Source Anonymity is a right which should be enjoyed by
those who need it and should never be granted
Sometimes journalists make the mistake of getting routinely to anyone who asks for it. People who may
too close to their source. They sometimes create lose their job for whistleblowing; or young children;
cosy relations that are ambiguous and can easily or women who are the victims of violence and abuse
undermine the ethical base of their work. Powerful and others who are vulnerable and at risk from
sources have their own agenda and accepting what exposure are obviously entitled to it, but anonymity
they say without question crosses an ethical line and is not a privilege to be enjoyed by people who are
compromises newsroom independence. self-seeking and who benefit by personal gain
The New York Times and other major news media through keeping their identity secret.
in the United States, for instance, were heavily
criticised before the invasion of Iraq in 2003 for Journalists should ask themselves:
relying too heavily on anonymous sources of What is the likely motivation for demanding
information inside the government. Media coverage anonymity? Does that motivation potentially
was highly deferential despite abundant evidence compromise me and my publication?
of the governments flagrant misuse of intelligence Are there other methods I can employ to increase
information. credibility while granting anonymity?
A chief offender was New York Times reporter
Is there no other way to get and publish this
Judith Miller, who produced stories in 2001 and
information? Have I exhausted all other methods
2002 about the government of Saddam Hussein
and potential sources?
in Iraq based on false information supplied by
unnamed sources. She appeared to accept without Do I or my colleagues have history with this source
question dubious information about weapons of that speaks to his/her credibility?
mass destruction in Iraq from anonymous sources, Have I maximised the level of identification that
including some at the Bush White House prior to the can be published without revealing the sources
United States invasion in 2003. personal identity?

Social Media and User- Have I collaborated with others to verify and
confirm the authenticity of content?
Generated Content
In the case of user-generated content:
In todays digital environment, rumour and
speculation circulate freely and knowing what is real What do I know about the actual origin of this
and how to verify news and information is essential. content? Can I verify the source?
Reporters must be alert to the danger of falling for Are there copyright or legal issues around using
bad information from online sources whether it is the content?
user-generated content or social media. Have I ensured that all the information can be
Digital-age sourcing is a major challenge, used and that the conditions for use are clear, for
particularly in emergency coverage where rumour instance through Creative Commons Licence?
and falsehood can quickly add to the tension and Am I confident that there have been no reality-
uncertainty surrounding traumatic events. offering alterations (eg Photoshop) used?
Some questions a reporter might ask, in the case of In the case of sourcing breaking news:
social media, include:
Before I report or retweet a development reported
Have I corroborated the origin including location, elsewhere, how confident am I in its accuracy?
date and time of images and content that I am Would I potentially cause harm if I reported
using from social media? something before it is established at 100% certainty?
Have I confirmed that this material is the original Is there potential harm in not reporting it?
piece of content? Have I been careful to question first-hand
Have I verified the social media profiles of accounts that can be inaccurate and manipulative,
accounts I am using to avoid use of fake emotional or shaped by faulty memory and
information? limited perspective?
Is the account holder known to me and has it been Have I triangulated the information with other
a reliable source in the past? credible sources?
Have I asked direct questions of the content Have I acknowledged that the material I am
provider to verify the provenance of the using can be copied, distributed, and displayed,
information? including derivative works based on it, and have I
Are any websites linked from the content? given credit to the original author and source?
Have we looked for and found the same or similar Find out More: Craig Silverman, Editor of Regret
posts/content elsewhere online? the Error at the Poynter Institute, and Media
Have I obtained permission from the author or Editor at BuzzFeed, has collaborated with the
originator to use the material whether pictures, European Journalism Centre to produce a useful
videos or audio content? Verification Handbook.
When Human Rights Trump Protection of Sources

Over the years there have been hundreds of cases when courts and public authorities ordered journalists to
hand over material or information that would reveal a source of information. In most cases the ethical reporter
will instinctively demur. Some will go to jail rather than betray a confidence.
Sometimes there are hard choices to be made. War correspondent Jonathan Randal of the Washington Post,
for instance, famously refused to answer a subpoena in 2002 ordering him to appear before the International
Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia which was prosecuting war crimes. Randal fought the subpoena
with the backing of his paper and won. This action, which was supported by press freedom groups around the
world, established some limited legal protection for war correspondents against being forced to give testimony.
But when conscience calls others have been willing to cooperate. Another journalist who reported on the
Bosnian war in the 1990s, Ed Vulliamy of the Guardian, was happy to testify before the Tribunal. His evidence
helped convict and send to jail some of those responsible for war crimes. He argued that bringing to justice
war criminals is a cause in which journalists, like other citizens, have a duty to join.
Facts Matter: The Panama Papers
Make the Case for Quality Journalism
It was not all bad news for ethical journalism in 2016. Far from it. One of the most stunning
examples of why the world needs quality and fact-based journalism was the leak and publication
of the Panama Papers in April.
This was one of the biggest acts of journalism in recent history involving more than 370 journalists
from 80 countries and covering 100 leading news media organisations.
The papers revealed corruption, secrecy and double-dealing in public life and exposed how
political leaders and corporate bosses from across the world were involved in secret offshore
business deals some of them financing war and terrorism.
Investigative journalists worked together to analyse secret documents from 11.5 million files held
by the global offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca. The records were obtained from an anonymous
source by the German newspaper Sddeutsche Zeitung which shared them with the International
Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICFJ) in the United States.
They co-ordinated the analysis and distillation of the material with its large network of
international partners, including Le Monde, the Guardian and the BBC and leading news outlets on
five continents.
It was an enormous task which no single media organisation could have handled alone, and it was
paid for largely by philanthropic and charitable foundations, including Adessium Foundation, Open
Society Foundations, the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Fritt Ord Foundation, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis
Reporting, the Ford Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts
and Waterloo Foundation.
This is the reality of modern journalism: an increasing dependence on donor funding and public
support for public interest journalism.

Hate Speech
A Dilemma for Journalists the World Over
Cherian George
H
ate speech presents a major challenge to todays journalism. Socially
conscious journalists have been rightly alarmed at how rapidly hate-filled
messages seep into, and often overwhelm, comment on the internet. Less
talked about is how journalists own professional procedures including how
news is defined may amplify the voices of hate propagandists. Then there are
the media outlets that purvey intolerance, serving as ideological spokesmen and
cheerleaders for forces of hate, from xenophobics to religious extremists.
Hate speech is any expression that User-Generated controversy. Donald Trump evidently
vilifies an identifiable group a race, knew this when he used hate speech
religious community, or sexual minority, Contempt against Mexicans and Muslims. Trump
for example and thus prompts harm The invasion of the trolls internet exploited the lust for riveting stories,
to members. Even free speech advocates users who publish offensive comments said Politics and Public Policy, a
agree that hate speech requires special and pick fights on social media and report on the medias coverage of the
handling, especially when levelled other platforms: they often indulge in presidential pre-primary season by the
against minorities too weak to counter hate speech. Many news organisations Harvard Kennedy Schools Shorenstein
it in the marketplace of ideas. However, respond to this problem through post- Center on Media, Trump is arguably
discussions on this subject often lose moderation, deleting or relegating the first bona fide media-created
focus: definitions get fuzzy and we find posts flagged as hate speech. Rather presidential nominee, it added.
legitimate concerns being translated than viewing this as censorship, such Some aspects of mainstream US
into unwarranted censorship. practices can be seen as helpful to open coverage of Trumps campaign were
There are vital distinctions to be made discussion, ensuring, for instance, that more salutary. Baseless claims about
among the following examples. women can speak up without enduring minorities were torn apart. Made-up
Incitement to cause harm such as a barrage of misogynistic abuse statistics he cited were fact-checked and
negative discrimination and violence; intended to intimidate and silence debunked in almost real time. In this
them. way, the media played a central role in
Expressions that hurt a communitys the pushback against his us-versus-them
Most media organisations claim that
feelings, including by insulting beliefs; politics of fear. Such critical scrutiny,
thorough housekeeping of their internet
Criticism of politicians and other platforms requires more man-hours unfortunately, may be limited to the
powerful interests, exposing them to than they can afford. This begs the high-profile race for the presidency; it
contempt. question of why they should host an is less evident in local politics, where
activity that outstrips their ability to the medias capacity for public-interest
The first is the only category that is
properly labeled hate speech; it is what
human rights standards say warrants
legal intervention. The second raises Most media organisations claim that thorough
ethical issues, but generally should not
be subject to legal restriction, since
housekeeping of their internet platforms requires more
freedom of speech must include the man-hours than they can afford. This begs the question of
right to challenge religious orthodoxy or
other deeply held beliefs. The third may
why they should host an activity that outstrips their ability to
be felt as hatred by its elite targets, and is manage it responsibly.
often what officials, military and police
are thinking of when they cite hate
speech as a justification for clamping
down on media. manage it responsibly (event organisers, reporting has been severely depleted.
To label something otherwise for example, are expected to ensure Furthermore, fact-checking probably
inoffensive as hate speech and use safety, comfort and convenience by made no impact on Trumps hardcore
it as an excuse for silencing criticism limiting numbers to what staff can supporters or the result of the election.
of dominant values and institutions handle). News organisations that Trump is not the only politician who
has understandably bred cynicism understand this duty close comments understands that coverage is often
among many journalists. As a defensive for stories that generate more vitriol dictated by news values rather than
reaction, they retreat behind their legal than they can manage. political values, as the Shorenstein
right to freedom of expression. report put it. Pauline Hanson of
Yet, legal limits should not determine Australias One Nation party is equally
the boundaries of professional conduct. The Newsiness of Hate adept at earning free media coverage.
Many principles that journalists live Media are less conscious or The new populists understand
by, such as protecting confidentiality, perhaps more confused about their the media and how to command
are not imposed by law, and indeed, responsibilities in covering newsmakers its attention, says Brian McNair,
may be in conflict with the law, but are who advocate intolerance. This is Queensland University of Technology
nonetheless voluntarily adopted as a partly because the issues are genuinely journalism professor. News editors
matter of ethics. complex and not amenable to simple and journalists shouldnt let themselves
Similarly, journalists need to develop ethical formulas. Best practice entails be played like fools. Hanson is a freak
their ethical capacities to respond alerting society to agents of hate, but on the fringe. Dont elevate her to the
to the real risk of serious harm without giving them a free ride that status of a major player. McNair points
being promoted. Ethical standards exaggerates their importance and out that One Nation claimed less than
pertaining to hate speech remain a amplifies their views uncritically. It can 4% of the Queensland electorate in
work in progress. There are a number be hard to strike the right balance. 2016. This should not be treated as a
of worrisome trends that deserve closer Unfortunately, what often sways the political earthquake deserving headline
scrutiny and deliberation. decision is the medias appetite for coverage, he says.

In India, extreme statements from or
about any religious group are lapped
up by television news channels, says
Sevanti Ninan, founder-editor of the
South Asian media watch website, The
Hoot. Journalists report oddball views
in order to generate a debate that is
good for ratings, she says. They can
barely mask their joy ... when one more
person pipes up and says something
stupid. Gotcha! You actually said that?
Now watch me flog it.
Electoral Legitimacy
The Trump phenomenon illustrates
another problem: democratic politics
confers legitimacy on election
contenders that many mainstream
media outlets think they are not
entitled to override. Whatever their
misgivings about Trump, many
journalists felt they had to respect
Republicans choice of nominee.
This has also been observed in
Europe. When radical populist Tragically, the Rohingya and some other Muslim groups are
parties reach a certain threshold of
popular vote, some media outlets dehumanised to the extent that even horrific crimes against
are inclined to adopt policies of them fail to generate public or official sympathy
accommodation under the mantra
of journalistic impartiality and
fairness, says Jean-Paul Marthoz,
professor of international journalism
at the Universit de Louvain. Others Dehumanised In the many countries where
homosexuality is illegal, such as
drop adversarial journalism to avoid Communities Indonesia, Iran and Uganda, media
upsetting an electorate that is part of
In extreme cases, a culture may have so often prey on prejudice and ignorance
their audience.
demeaned or dehumanised a particular by agitating against the LGBT
The problem is compounded by the
community that hate speech against it community. In Uganda in 2014, the day
almost universal tendency to cover
sounds normal and unobjectionable after a harsh anti-gay law was enacted,
elections like horse races between
to many people, including journalists. one tabloid newspaper published a list
personalities rather than contests of
This is the situation in Myanmar, where of what it called the nations 200 top
policy positions the media should help
assess. This was noted in the coverage many ethnic Burmans have deep homosexuals. Ugandan journalists say
of the UKs referendum on European prejudices against Muslims, especially they are just reflecting the sentiment
Union membership. Even though the Rohingya. Tragically, the Rohingya of the society they cover and the laws
the BBCs public service mandate and some other Muslim groups are under which they work, according to Al
obliged it to provide balanced dehumanised to the extent that even Jazeeras media watch programme, The
coverage, Labours position was barely horrific crimes against them fail to Listening Post.
covered, a Loughborough University generate public or official sympathy,
study found. Media focused on the says Nicholas Farrelly of the Australian Religious Hate
more exciting contest within the National Universitys Myanmar Hate speech against religious groups is a
Conservative Party as well as from the Research Centre. particularly complex problem, because
anti-immigration UKIP. This has parallels with homophobia religious communities define themselves
The run-up to the Brexit referendum and the extreme bias against by a set of beliefs and beliefs are fair
also showcased medias more active transgender people in some parts of game for criticism and insult. There is
and deliberate role in purveying hate. the world. That these attitudes can therefore a tension some would say
According to a Cardiff University turn deadly was demonstrated in the a fatal contradiction between the
study, Britains right-wing press stood shooting rampage in Florida at an need to protect against incitement while
out in Europe for the consistent, Orlando gay nightclub in June 2016, allowing beliefs to be pilloried.
hard campaigning edge of its anti- which killed 49. That spawned further Some of the most fraught debates over
immigrant coverage, an example of how hate speech, with religious leaders and offensive speech are due to this tension.
hate speech can proliferate in highly other commentators stating that the When cartoons or videos depict Islam
charged and polarised political debates. victims got what they deserved. as a murderous religion, governments
and internet intermediaries declare that Extreme nationalism hatred is often and progressive. Their attempts to
they cannot legitimately restrict such overlooked in discussions of hate censor offensive speech on campuses
expression, because an attack on a belief speech, perhaps because intense are ostensibly intended to create safe
system does not technically amount to and exclusive loyalty to the nation spaces for victimised and disadvantaged
a call to arms against its believers. Many patriotism tends to be seen as a virtue groups. But some of their campaigns
at the receiving end, however, maintain in a way that similar sentiments about also smack of political opportunism,
that such denigration of their religion race or religion are not. Yet, nationalistic milking indignation to advance more
is part of a broad ideological assault hate speech in East Asia, for example, self-serving organisational objectives.
that makes it harder for them to live as poses a threat to world peace. Chinas The backlash from the right includes
equals in their society. state-run media, aided by online media, charges of political correctness run
In any case, a legal right to insult regularly incite hatred against Japan amok and perhaps greater resistance to
religions does not preclude journalists with alarming headlines and half-truths. discussing the harm of hate speech.
deciding, on ethical grounds, to refrain Right-wing media in Japan reciprocate Another worrying trend is vilification
from wanton attacks on values and with China-bashing, although their of the media. Individual journalists
beliefs. Political cartoonist Garry Trudeau influence is diluted by Japans more have always faced personal attacks. In
suggests media should take peoples open media environment. the US election campaign, however,
power into account when making such Also worth pondering is how to Donald Trump whipped up a broader
reflect the grievances of citizens who assault on the media in general. This
decisions. Reflecting on the controversy
are drawn to hate campaigns. They trend had already been observed in
over satirical depictions of the Prophet
may have legitimate concerns about Europe, where extreme right-wing
Mohammed in Europe, Trudeau said in
the economic and cultural cost of groups have cultivated hatred towards
an essay in The Atlantic: Traditionally,
immigration. Immigration policy the mainstream press, according to the
satire has comforted the afflicted while
deserves vigorous discussion, even as Committee to Protect Journalists.
afflicting the comfortable. Satire punches
immigrants are shielded from bigotry. One of the most pernicious and
up against authority of all kinds, the little Similarly, protecting Muslim minorities under-discussed aspects of hate speech
guy against the powerful ... Ridiculing the from discrimination should not preclude is that potent hate campaigns are not
non-privileged is almost never funny debates over the real problem of limited to racist rants or banners. They
its just mean. intolerance and militancy gaining ground instead involve a sophisticated effort
While journalists may agree in within many Muslim communities. across a networked movement. Extreme
principle, however, there would still be expression is only part of its arsenal
disagreements over implementation.
Muslim immigrants in Europe are Growing Complexities and not necessarily the most effective
weapon. Psychologists and sociologists
a vulnerable minority when viewed Hate speech is a constantly evolving tell us that messages are more persuasive
at the national level, but they are phenomenon, with new perpetrators, when they enter minds when their guard
simultaneously members of a world targets and tactics. One noteworthy is down. Journalists need to be vigilant
religion with tremendous power to development, particularly in the West, is not only against obviously toxic speech,
shape world affairs. Medias ethical the rise of left-wing intolerance among but also hate propaganda couched in
responses will differ depending on segments of the political spectrum pseudoscientific terms and reasonable
which of these two frames apply. previously thought of as open-minded discourse. In France, for example,
National Front leader Marine Le Pen has
assiduously sanitised her partys rhetoric
to make her anti-immigrant positions
sound more respectable.
Politicians Blamed for Race Hate Rise If journalists are to help counter
Reports of race hate and religious abuse incidents in Britain leapt by 41% in propaganda, therefore, bringing in
the month after the UK voted to quit the European Union, leading to a call policies to deal with flagrant hate
from the countrys equality watchdog for an end to political incitement and speech is just the first step. The media
intolerant political speech. In a letter to all political parties the Equality and also need to help uncover connections
Human Rights Commission said politicians had polarised the country between elements that make up a
and legitimised hate. modern hate campaign. Much of
The letter was sent after a wave of racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic this needs traditional investigative
attacks on the streets and two murders, including the killing of a Labour journalism: tracing the flows of
parliamentarian, Jo Cox, during the referendum campaign. Prosecutors money and power, and figuring out
said the attack by Thomas Mair was nothing less than an act of terrorism who benefits by instigating hatred,
and the judge said it was carried out to advance a political cause of violent discrimination and violence.
white supremacism. Reporting on extreme far-right groups
And in late November, just three weeks after the United States presidential can be as risky as covering the criminal
election a leading US human rights group, the Southern Poverty Law underworld, notes a Committee
Centre, said there had been almost 900 incidents of hate crime, a post- to Protect Journalists report. Like
election surge which they blamed on the rhetoric of the winning candidate, covering crime, corruption and the
Donald Trump. abuse of political power, covering hate
campaigns calls on journalisms highest
principles and deepest skills.

When Media Become
Foot-Soldiers On the
highest Front line
A.S. Paneerselvan*
C
lashes and killings along the ceasefire line that separates Indian
Administered Kashmir and Pakistan Administered Kashmir have
become a daily affair with a huge human toll and the nationalistic
shrillness of the media on both sides is now deafening.
*A.S. Panneerselvan is the Readers Editor of The Hindu. He is was reappointed as the head of Panos South Asia in 2016. He also
headed Panos South Asia from 2004 and 2014.
One challenge in writing about the media and Indo-Pak relations is that it conflates
all media good, bad and indifferent into a monolith.
While the escalation of violence is On 3 November 2016, the government carving out a nation state that includes
presumably to defend the rights of the ordered the respectable Hindi channel all Muslim-majority regions. The
people of Kashmir, the underlying military NDTV India to shut down for a day competitive reasoning, supported by
purposes of the nuclear neighbours in this for allegedly revealing strategically the media, seems oblivious to the daily
low-intensity war seem to be to distract sensitive details during its coverage of injuries both countries inflict on the
from the failure of both governments to an attack on the Indian Air Force base people of Kashmir.
address domestic issues. in Pathankot on 2 January 2016. The One challenge in writing about the
Though cross-border violence has decision ... is a direct violation of the media and Indo-Pak relations is that it
been a phenomenon since 1947, the freedom of the media ... and amounts conflates all media good, bad and
attack on an Indian army camp in Uri on to harsh censorship ... reminiscent of indifferent into a monolith. Pakistans
18 September 2016 in which 18 soldiers the Emergency, said the Editors Guild Dawn or Indias The Hindu are daily
were killed, deeply divided the Indian of India who demanded the immediate newspapers, not warmongers. However,
media into those who report events and rescinding of the order. many television channels in both
those who become mouthpieces for the At the heart of the India-Pakistan countries are baying for blood.
warmongers conflict lies Kashmir. Neither country For a decade Panos South Asia
The Indian government is playing has come to terms with the profound (the network of independent non-
a dangerous game of supporting changes resulting from Partition and governmental institutes) has brought
media organisations that whip up the creation of Pakistan in 1947. Both together Indian and Pakistan editors for
ultranationalist sentiments. Key hold Kashmir as a prized possession open and frank discussions. The first,
ministers attack journalists and media to justify their own nation-building in Nagarkot, Nepal in 2002, occurred
that believe in speaking truth to power. rationale. India needs Kashmir, the when Indian and Pakistani troops
Prime Minister Modi himself has called Muslim-majority state, to prove its were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball
journalists news traders, one minister secular credentials and to counter confrontation. The retreat was organised
has called them presstitutes and the idea that religion constitutes in collaboration with the Kathmandu-
another has said journalists should stop nationality. For Pakistan, Kashmir based journal Himal Southasian that has
asking questions. represents its unfinished agenda of remained our partner.
Indian soldiers, Kashmir by flowcomm (previous page) and Man reading Newspaper by Mike Prince (image right) licensed under CC BY 2.0

We discussed the medias role in team of editors and proprietors from restrictions on cell-phone roaming
covering the situation. Star reporters in both sides. Means of cooperation both between Pakistan and India.
the war spoke about their experiences through the media and elsewhere were We suggested broadening coverage
while the political personalities gave discussed. While discussions tended to beyond geopolitics, ensuring a more
important behind-the-scenes details. get heated, it all came together as an rigorous reportage of economic,
Afterwards some journalists wrote for incisive analysis of current forces at play infrastructure and cultural issues.
each others publications and continue within the region. Training workshops for reporters on
to do so on important events. Reports of every one of the 10 retreats specific issues like Kashmir, water, and
Subsequent retreats dealt with between 2002 and 2010 have been terrorism, for example, would help raise
subjects including the nuclear issue published in Himal Southasian, the the level of reporting in general.
and Kashmir. In the nuclear meeting, regions leading journal and a magazine We suggested the development of
at Bellagio on Lake Como, Italy, the widely picked up by academics, think a mutually agreed code of ethics and
Pakistan representatives came up with tanks, policy makers, students and guidelines on issues of mutual concern
the problem of lack of access to accurate activists among others. The proceedings and the development of a website
and timely information. They were are on the webpage of the Himal. that would allow better cross-border
given material and sources by some of One of the key truths to emerge from engagement between journalists.
their Indian counterparts who had been the retreats was the fact that domestic We wanted to compile a database
covering the issue for a longer time. constituencies for peace need to be of media commentators to provide a
They continue to remain in touch. TV nourished, and without adequate larger pool of analysts to draw from and
channels present discussed exchanging home support no regime in Delhi or allow for more circumspection at times
footage and joint coverage. One such Islamabad can keep the peace process of crisis. A related suggestion was to
alliance was made between Sun TV on track. The Establishments in both monitor television talk shows to analyse
of India and Geo TV of Pakistan, an countries have openly acknowledged how often hawkish voices are invited on
alliance that ended when I left Sun TV. that the softening of nationalist air compared to more nuanced views.
The meeting on Kashmir, in Istanbul, rhetoric by influential sections of the Another suggestion was to promote
was among the most productive. media a direct result of the retreats more exchange and interaction among
Political leaders from Indian Kashmir has helped them to revive the peace junior and mid-level reporters, editors
and Pakistani Kashmir set off the process every time it gets stymied by and producers from the media in each
discussions. The editors came up with some event like a bomb blast or an act country.
some constructive suggestions that the of terror. What is clear is that responsible
two leaders then carried on world tours The success of these interactions is media in India and Pakistan know how
immediately after. There were many valued by major publications in India to report in times of crisis. But their
conciliatory noises later from both and Pakistan. A media conference, idea of journalism to minimise harm
governments, suggesting out-of-the-box Talking Peace, was convened in is hardly heard in the din created by
solutions. One, to permit cross-border Karachi by Aman ki Asha, a joint television channels. For instance, many
trade between the two Kashmirs, has initiative of the Jang Group of Pakistan senior editors in India agree with The
just been implemented. and the Times of India Group, to Economists story, All Hail (22 October
Two former Indian foreign secretaries, present our experience of bringing 2016), which established that a vast
Shyam Saran and Shivshankar Menon, senior media functionaries together and section of Indias press is more craven
acknowledge that this initiative its impact on the quality of reports and than Pakistans.
helped to get domestic media support. analysis. It rightly pointed out that Times Now
Most importantly, some media Participants agreed on the need to television channel eschews any space
decided they would stop using the create more empathy for each country for dialogue, dissent and understanding
terms India Occupied and Pakistan and the need for more cross-border of the other. Arnab Goswami, the
Occupied Kashmir, opting instead information. Specific suggestions were anchor of a particularly raucous talk
for the more neutral terminology of made on improving mutual coverage show, has declared that critics of the
Indian Administered and Pakistan and understanding. Some stemmed government should be jailed, read the
Administered Kashmir. from the need to reinforce journalisms Economist report.
The retreat in Barcelona, Spain, the best practices, such as being careful It is worth remembering the sane words
seventh, came as the geo-political about reports based on single sources of Raj Kamal Jha, editor of the Indian
environment had changed dramatically and questioning stories stemming from Express, when he spoke in front of Prime
within a year. Pakistans role as a government agencies. Minister Narendra Modi at the Ramnath
frontline state in the war on terror We looked at visa restrictions that Goenka Awards for Excellence in
and its domestic turmoil placed a force media to draw on correspondents Journalism on 2 November 2016: Good
completely different spin on bilateral and reporters from each others journalism is not dying; it is getting
relations. India too was in a state of countries, which has led to points of better and bigger. Its just bad journalism
flux due to forthcoming elections. Two view being broadcast or published makes a lot more noise than it used to
former foreign secretaries of India and across the border. Suggestions included do five years ago. And that is why I think
Pakistan, Salman Haidar and Shamshad allowing journalists easier access to the remote control should get the R&G
Ahmad, joined a very high-powered each others countries and ending award for excellence in journalism.
Women in the Crosshairs as
Hate Speech Puts African
Media Under Pressure
Racheal Nakitare
F
reedom of expression comes with great responsibility and media
practitioners must draw the line on what can and cannot be said in public
or printed. The lack of responsible journalism, especially when it fuels
hate speech and propaganda, has been a major contributor to turmoil in Africa.

Though hate speech in the African media tends to take Though the (male) moderator wanted the public to believe
cultural, political, economic and social dimensions, it is the he was helpless, outraged observers argued that he appeared
political that generates most heat. History has proved that to enjoy the aggression and humiliation. This was blatant
elections across the continent are fertile ground for hate disrespect for women, as the attacks were intended to harm
speech and conflict. and dehumanise the female participant. The attacker, the
The Rwanda genocide in 1994, Kenyas post-election violence medium, the audience reach, the content and the context
in 2008, Burundis marred elections of 2015, South Sudans meet the five-point test designed by the Ethical Journalism
unending conflict and the Arab spring are some instances of Network (EJN) as guidelines for journalists to identify hate
how media contributed to the escalation of violence. speech and thus demonstrate responsibility in their work.
In Kenya, politicians have sought to manipulate community The public comments that followed the programme took
grievances to whip up support in every contested election since on gender undertones as opposed to discussing substantive
the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1992. In the post- issues that matter to the electorate. The fear now is that similar
election period of 20072008, when allegations of electoral fraud scenarios will characterise the media in Kenya prior to the
erupted in violence, more than 1,000 people were killed, 3,500 August 2017 general elections if no decisive action is taken
were injured and approximately 350,000 displaced. against the media house responsible in this case.
The broadcaster Joshua Arap Sang was charged with using But even as media are criticised over channeling hate
the Kalenjin-language radio station Kass FM to incite hatred speech it is important to understand that they are caught in
of the Kikuyu and with incitement to violence. In 2011 he was a bind. Anyone can publish via social media and the rush to
charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against publish without checking the facts has often led to journalists
humanity stemming from his actions at that time. However, in being depicted as irresponsible and greedy. Attacks often
April 2016 the ICC terminated the case against him. follow women writers online, castigating them and tearing
The failure of this prosecution may have sent the wrong into their stories.
kind of signals because Kenyan politicians have taken it as One female writer with the Nation in Nairobi shied away
licence to continue hurling insults and even to call for the from following up a story on empowerment for women by
assassination of opposing leaders. the state-run Information and Communication Technology
Tolerance and mutual respect should be the hallmark of Authority (ICT) when an analysis she did on womens rights
mature democracy. In South Africa xenophobic violence online was attacked by a reader who called it another of the
against migrants may have been interpreted as defending feminist-biased stories. The conversation that followed took
economic interests, but recent calls for the murder of white a men-v-women argument as opposed to understanding the
people by Julius Malema, controversial leader of the Economic role that ICT plays. The situation can only get worse because
Freedom Fighters party, is a reminder that racism is alive there. most countries in Africa do not have cyber laws that deal with
Malemas hate speech extended to attacking a BBC journalist online offences.
at a rally. The media in Africa are viewed almost entirely as commercial
Hundreds have lost lives and millions have been displaced entities, as opposed to services that contribute to the public
in the South Sudan conflict that has pitted supporters of good. And financial objectives, regulation and professionalism
President Salva Kiir (Dinka) against those loyal to former are under threat. The increase in investors after the airwaves
Vice-President Dr Riek Machar (Nuer) in what is often in Africa were opened up permitted politicians to control
viewed as ethnic conflict. Much reporting has taken sides, frequencies for political ends. Instead of introducing diverse
making it difficult for people to trust and rely on media for and dynamic ideas that will grow the sector, the focus has been
objective information. on safeguarding their space and ensuring their opponents do
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that a rise in not get a look-in.
hate speech and ethnic incitement is likely to spark mass The dominance of male politicians in media ownership
atrocities in the country, which has been ravaged by war since has pushed women to the periphery, and only left the very
2013. In 2014, rebels used a radio station in Bentiu to call on determined to navigate the murky political waters. Only one
men from one community to sexually attack women from women sits on the board of the Media Owners Association in
another. Kenya. Until more women can determine the future of media
Hate speech has been repeatedly used as a weapon of in the country, gender inequality will continue.
gender-based violence meant to intimidate women into While editorial and financial independence continue to
silence. Though Africa boasts a rich cultural heritage that determine good journalism, African media have lacked
has often evolved to embrace contemporary practice, gender professionalism. The emergence of digital media has caused
biases persist. When culture is used as an argument, it is panic as media houses cut down on staff. The Kenyan
usually to maintain privilege. mainstream media have laid off many staff in the past year,
Media have contributed to gender discrimination and hate with women the first to go.
speech that is characterised by stereotyping. The first yardstick Training has also failed journalism, considering that there is
for judging women seeking political office therefore becomes no standard curriculum such as applies in other professions
morality, regardless of how male counterparts may behave. like law, medicine and architecture. Training institutions
A recent television programme, hosted by an internationally should understand the need to develop curricula specific
acclaimed Kenyan journalist, saw the most embarrassing and to online or digital requirements. Infiltration by quacks has
humiliating debate in recent politics. A man seeking political greatly compromised standards. Criteria for employing radio
office used vulgar language against his female opponent, announcers depend on mastery of a language rather than
hurling sexual insults over an hour-long interview. He referred professional training that includes ethics.
to the female aspirant as a socialite bimbo who had planned Regulation remains a major task in most countries,
a 30-days sex holiday if her team wins. considering political interests and the pace of
Research carried out by the International Association of
Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) in collaboration
with the web foundation Womens Rights Online in 2016
established that women are 50% less likely to be internet
connected than men with similar levels of education and
income.
The EJN partnered with media organisations, journalists
unions including Africa Media Initiative (AMI), the
International Association of Women in Radio and Television
(IAWRT), the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), East
African Journalists Association (EAJA), and others to
launch a campaign, Turning the Page of Hate in Africa in
Kigali in April 2014, during the 20th anniversary of the
Rwanda genocide.
Subsequent workshops and training have been carried
out in Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.
Much progress has been made, using the EJN five-point test,
in aiding professionals across the continent to identify hate
speech and in adhering to professional ethics in eliminating
incitement to violence. But much more needs to be done to
entrench ethics in training institutions and in media house
practices, and particularly to confront the challenges that
come with technological advances.
References:
http://www.theafricareport.com/West-Africa/ghana-
vows-to-crack-down-on- hate-speech.html
http://theconversation.com/hate-speech- raises-its-
ugly-voice- as-kenya- drifts-into-election-mode-61305
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000205252/cord-
jubilee- mps-locked- up-for- four-days-over-hate-speech
http://www.africanews.com/2016/02/08/human-rights-
watch-denounces- egypts-justice-ministers-hate- speech/
International Convention on the Elimination of all forms
of Racial Discrimination, accessible at http://www.ohchr.
Digital platforms have further complicated org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CERD.aspx accessed
matters, adding spontaneity, ambiguity and on 17/01/2014
International Covenant on Civil and political
an unchecked freedom of expression. Rights, accessible at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
International_Covenant_on_Civil_and_Political_Rights
accessed on 17/01/2014. European Convention on
Human Rights, accessible at http://www.ohchr.org/
standardisation. The Media Council in Kenya is tasked to en/professionalinterest/ pages/ccpr.aspx accessed on
regulate media but has no powers to prosecute cases of hate- 17/01/2014
mongering, for example. http://www.iawrt.org/sites/default/files/field/
Digital platforms have further complicated matters, adding pdf/2016/02/biennial%20report%20-final- jan%2030.pdf
spontaneity, ambiguity and an unchecked freedom of http://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/federation-of-african-
expression. Though web-based media have made government journalists- congress-29-30-april-2016-abuja-nigeria
control more difficult, they have also opened the floodgates to
falsehoods that spread much faster than on traditional media.
Image above: Racheal holding a phone by Erik Hersman licensed under CC BY 2.0

The World is Watching umbrella on display during Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong
Locusts, Hotdogs
and Leftards
A Hong Kong Glossary of Hate Speech
Chan Chi Kit
I
n June 2016 a group of journalists and academics from China, Japan, Korea
and Taiwan met in Hong Kong at the invitation of the EJN and the Hong
Kong Baptist University to establish an East Asia Media Forum to promote
dialogue and media co-operation in a region where political tensions have been
growing in recent years.
The Forum agreed that cross-border co-operation between Hotdog (): Specifically used for followers of Wong Yeung
journalists and academics will be essential to prevent media Tat and his allies. Wong heads a political group called Civic
becoming instruments of propaganda. Part of avoiding the Passion, which is regarded as radical and rightist.
recruitment of journalists as foot-soldiers in information Christian sucks (): Depicts Christians as stubborn
conflict is the need to confront hate-speech in the way we die-hards defying human rights and social equality. It
report on the affairs of others. stems from social controversies over gay and lesbian rights.
The Hong Kong meeting suggested developing a simple Some supporters of this camp mock religious groups
glossary of terms that journalists should avoid if they want often Christian which oppose and criticise supporters of
to encourage civil public discourse. As an example, we have LGBT rights. The word in Cantonese implies penis and
assembled a glossary from everyday usage in Hong Kong. humiliation.
There are three main types of hate speech:
Bastard (): Insults Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the
a) dehumanisation by using insect and animal terminology.
Chinese pronunciation of bastard is strikingly similar to his
b) terms for attacking political or ideological opponents. surname (Xi, ) and his position as General Secretary of
c) political nicknames which mock particular targets. the Chinese Communist Party (Zhong, , the short form of
General Secretary).
The definition of hate speech is very controversial, in
particular for b) and c) above, since metaphor and mockery
(and satire) are often used in political and ideological debates.
II: Political and Ideological
Although this glossary is hardly exhaustive and should not Name-Calling
be seen as a dictionary of banned words, as there must be This category covers name-calling during political or
debate about cultural significance, it nevertheless aims to alert ideological conflict. Not yet clear whether this is hate speech
people to the adoption of labels which ignite public hatred. or acceptable metaphor.
Journalists and media have to be careful; rampant, casual and
unthinking usage of such terms can do damage and may result Leftard (): Applied to those who possess unrealistic
in unintended victimisation. leftist ideology by sticking to the principles of social
inclusiveness, peaceful and non-violent action while facing
threats from China and HK Establishment. Also implies
I: Dehumanisation stupidity and stubbornness. Used by those who attack
These terms are common enough to be termed hate speech in supporters of welfare for new immigrants and Mainland
the context of Hong Kong. Chinese in Hong Kong and activists and politicians who
insist on peaceful and non-violent means in the democracy
Locust (): Denigrates Mainland Chinese and is widely
movement.
applied to new immigrants from the mainland, Chinese
visitors and people who cannot speak fluent Cantonese. It Leftard of Greater China (): Demeans HK-ers
breeds labels with similar meanings, eg country of locust who adopt Chinese cultural identity in the course of
(referring to China), eggs of locust (children who obtained the democratisation of Hong Kong. People who seek a
HK residence whose parents are Mainland Chinese but not HK reassessment of the Tiananmen Square massacre or the
citizens). abolition of the one-party system in China are often labelled
leftards of Greater China.
Communist Dog (): An insult to the Chinese Communist
Party and members. Now widely used by media and people Indigenous Communist (): Used for pro-communists in
who mock parties and individuals perceived as working Hong Kong. Originated in the pro-Taiwan press since the 1967
for the interests of the Chinese Communist Party and the riot in HK initiated by Maoists to challenge colonial status.
Chinese government. Also widely seen in political spats where It implies blind loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and
determination to protect Hong Kongs interest from Chinas opposition to the democratisation of Hong Kong.
interference is questioned. Fifty Cent Party (): Comes from the allegation that people
Hong Kongs Pig (): Analogy attacking Hong Kong people are paid 50 cents for publishing every online post in favour of
regarded as apathetic or who avoid political and social the Chinese government. They are also said to block posts by
controversies. They are seen as satisfied with the status quo, flooding them with junk mail.
with basic needs fulfilled, but refuse to stand up for democracy Servility (): Derogatory depiction of the submissiveness
and social change. of Chinese people to authority. Used for those perceived as
Police Dog (): Insults the police by denigrating them as unconditionally accepting the dominant ideology and who
dogs, particularly those who blindly defend the status quo and show ignorance of and apathy to social injustice.
the governing regimes. The Taliban of ethics (): Applied to those who
Teaching Beast (): An insult to incompetent teachers by uphold moral absolutism and compel others to observe high
denigrating them as animals. moral standards, which is sometimes regarded as unrealistic.
Yellow corpse (): Insults those who supported the Peaceful, Rational, Non-violent and No-swearing (
Occupy movement of HK in 2014, and later became a term ): Political terminology for moderate resistance (using lawful
for supporters of democracy and social activists. The Occupy means) by democrats. It differentiates moderate democrats
movement once used yellow ribbons as their symbol of from radical activists and is often adopted by media or
resistance. Chinese pronunciation of ribbon is similar to that radicals to satirise democrats from well-known parties and
for corpse. organisations.

Banquets, Cakes and Dumplings (): Satirises The Wolf (): Describes the unfaithful and repressive image
the sweeteners offered by the pro-Establishment camp in of Leung Chun Ying.
exchange for votes. Demeans partisan voters for this camp.
Lobster (): Metaphor for the bad fashion sense of Leungs
Fake Refugee (): Demeans those seeking asylum and wife, Regina Leung Tong Chin Yee. Originated from a red gown
residence in Hong Kong, particularly from South East Asia. she wore which made her look like a lobster.
Fake implies they are driven by socio-economic interests
and not political repression. In some media coverage they are In addition to these, here are some examples in use in China
associated with crime and social problems. (provided by Yuan Zeng of the City University in Hong Kong):
Leftover women: Single women in China aged 27 and above
III: Political Nicknames
Gang Can: Hongkongers
Common in media discourses and everyday conversation.
They may not be regarded as hate speech by most Hong Xiao Riben: Small Japanese
Kong people. However, their derogatory implication is well Riben Guizi : Japanese ghost
understood.
Yang Guizi : Foreign ghost
Loving Mother (): Satire on police violence. The term
came from a broadcast interview with former HK Police Bangzi (stick): Korean
Commissioner Andy Tsang Wai Hung, when he described the A San (three): Indian
protective role of police as of a loving mother.
Qiangguo (strong nation): Used by Apple Daily in HK to
689: Refers to the unrepresentative election system and HKs refer to China
Chief Executive Leung Chung Ying. Stems from the 689 out of
Da Lu Ke (tourists from Mainland China): Now
1200 votes won by Leung from an election committee in 2012,
derogatory after extensive use by some HK media
which made him the head of Hong Kongs administration. It
has become the most widely-used nickname for Leung. Tai Bazi: Taiwanese
HATE SPEECH
journalists and editors must pause and take the
time to judge the potential impact of offensive,
inflammatory content.
TURNING THE PAGE OF HATE

TURNING THE PAGE OF HATE:
A MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR
The following test, developed by the EJN and
based on international standards, highlights
questions in the gathering, preparation and
A media campaign for tolerance in journalism

dissemination of news and helps place what is
TOLERANCE IN JOURALISM said and who is saying it in an ethical context.
3 GOALS
2 REACH
OF THE SPEECH
OF THE SPEECH
How does it benefit the speaker
How far is the speech traveling? and their interests?
Is there a pattern of behaviour?
Is it deliberately intended to
cause harm to others?
5
A CHECKLIST
JOURNALISTS
POINT
TEST
FOR
5 4
THE
CONTENT ITSELF
Is the speech dangerous?
Could it incite violence towards others?
SURROUNDING
CLIMATE
SOCIAL / ECONOMIC / POLITICAL
Who might be negatively affected?
Is there a history of conflict or

discrimination? STATUS OF THE
1
SPEAKER
How might their position influence
their motives?
Should they even be listened to

or just ignored?
42 Dont sensationalise!Avoid the rush to Publish Take a moment of reflection

ETHICAL JOURNALISM
DONT SENSATIONALISE
NETWORK (EJN)
! EthicalJournalismNetwork.org
AVOID THE TO PUBLISH
ATTENTION MEDIA
There is No HONOUR in Killing!
Tasneem Ahmar
D
espite efforts to sensitise the media in Pakistan to gender issues,
especially violence against women, few news outlets in their efforts
to win ratings appear to apply balance. Almost all television channels
sensationalised the murder last July of Qandeel Baloch, a model turned
celebrity, by showing explicit photo shoots and interviews. The horror of a
young life taken in its prime became farce, and far from inviting sympathy
many in the media depicted the murder as a matter of honour.
Qandeel Baloch had made headlines for openly expressing her sexuality by uploading photographs
of herself in scanty clothing and defying patriarchal mindsets. She wasnt a criminal but due to her
fame the media used even greater insensitivity and disrespect than usual in their portrayal of gender
based violence and violence against women and so-called honour killings.
Exactly two weeks after Qandeels murder, a British woman, Samia Shahid was lured to her
ancestral home in Pakistan and killed, allegedly by her father and her first husband. She was said
to have maligned the honour of her family by divorcing her allegedly abusive first husband and
marrying another man of her choosing. Another Samia, married and the mother of two children,
died in April 1999 when she was gunned down at her parents behest in Lahore because she wished
to free herself from an abusive marriage. The facts clearly pointed to the involvement of several
family members, but only the main suspect was charged. Samias blood relatives forgave him. The
press termed the murder an act of an individual and no one was punished by the state.
Innumerable women in Pakistan are her taking selfies with a cleric? To deserve severe punishment under the
killed in the name of so-called honour, express sympathy with a woman law. Sympathy with victims of violence
thus turning victims into criminals who who defied patriarchal norms? Few must be encouraged and perpetrators
are said to deserve punishment in terms rational observers may agree. Further, condemned loudly and clearly.
of debatable values and traditions. the manner of reporting gave the The media can also push governments
Honour killings are based on the impression that she deserved to die. to help prevent such crimes by offering
absurd notion that a perpetrators Was this intentional? effective protection to potential victims,
female blood relatives must uphold the A few voices did empathise with to initiate campaigns that seek to
honour of a man. Qandeel, seeing a woman who simply change minds mired in ignorance and
We hope things are changing regarding wanted to get the most out of life and to encourage acceptance of women as
punishment for such murders. Due to had the courage of her convictions. The equal members of society rather than as
the decades-long struggle of women medias deliberate or unintended bias commodities and repositories of male
activists, a new law dictates that a life against women was apparent through honour and prestige. To fight misogyny,
sentence will be mandatory for honour lack of respect for the dead Qandeel, cultural misrepresentations and
killing convictions. A death sentence while the cleric received almost no patriarchal stereotypes need to be altered,
may be commuted to life imprisonment attention even though he was a high with the burden of transformation lying
if the victims family forgives the killer. public official before this story broke. with the community as a whole.
The judge will have the discretion to There were no investigative stories or For media in Pakistan the stakes are
determine whether a murder qualifies talk-show discussions on the deeper very high and they may be expected
as an honour killing. issues of misogynist mindsets that were to take the lead in the struggle against
Women are killed in the name of so apparent in most coverage. In some misrepresentation of womens issues
honour in many parts of the world. cases gender blindness rather than and gender based violence, especially
They are most often described as tribal, gender bias was the issue. Often the talk honour killings.
feudal, patriarchal acts of saving the show host or the writer/reporter couldnt A review of foreign media coverage of
honour of the family. In such cultures, see the difference that terminologies such killings (for example in UK) reveals
women can be said to bring disgrace by make or the impact of words and phrases a lack of empathy and knowledge of the
simple acts such as applying make-up, and how one constructs a sentence issues and explains the phenomenon
talking to a male stranger, or wishing to suitably. How much weight is given to as a ghastly way of life, [a matter of]
choose their husband. Men also become whom and why is also important. Finally, culture and [ignorance of] western
victims of this practice on occasion (if it is not the business of journalism to be ways. These headlines, based on
named as the females partner) but the judgmental. stereotypes, shape the way in which
majority of those murdered in the name An example of how style and honour crimes are understood by many
of honour are females aged 10 to 70. terminology can change the complexion and have led to immigrant communities
Human rights groups in Pakistan say of a situation is when the word honour being seen as regressive and backward,
500-1,000 cases are reported yearly, but is written within inverted commas to and somehow morally inferior by
many are not. denote its lack of authenticity when used mainstream public opinion.
A critical aspect of this crime is the as an excuse to kill. According to an article A more dangerous conclusion often
manner in which it is reported. The in theDaily News(Egypt) terminology drawn is that honour killings are a part
style and terminology used by media, in the media matters, and for murders of Islamic society and thus sanctioned
particularly social media, when writing as complex as these, its the medias by Islam, as most such cases occur in
and reporting on womens issues, responsibility to find a name that better Muslim societies. It is essential, therefore,
especially violence against women, fits the crime. Only then will it become for media in Pakistan and worldwide to
is an essential tool in portraying easier to work towards a solution. disabuse the public of the notion that
these killings as murder. We must Al Jazeera for one has decided which honour crimes are sanctioned by Islam.
differentiate between the imaginary, they wont use: We are always updating This is clearly possible through gender-
reality-showworld of Twitterati & our style guidelines to convey a deeper balanced reporting containing facts, not
Facebookers vs the mainstream print and more authentic understanding of assumptions, with the focus always on the
and electronic media although the lines world affairs. Recent events in Pakistan perpetrators of crimes, not the victims.
are getting blurred by onlinebloggers ignited a healthy debate in Al Jazeera on
and other armchair activists, says the term honour killings in particular. References:
Tahira Abdullah, an Islamabad-based Our editors are currently studying Aisha Gill Patriarchal Violence in the Name
womens and human rights activist. alternatives ... but misogynistic murder of Honour: University of Roehampton,
Perhaps a list of tips on how to cover is not one of them, said a spokesperson. London, International Journal of Justices
Sciences, Vol 1 Issue 1 January 2006.)
honour killings would clarify issues. Apart from words, phrases and
An analysis of the Pakistani media shows nuances that alter the essence of a Deutsche Welle: http://www.dw.com/
en/rethinking-the-term-honor-killing/a-
a clear dividing line between a relatively story the media must focus on the
19451648?maca=en-rss_en_DailyNewsEgypt-
sensitised English-language media (with perpetrator of a crime, not on the 14679-xml-mrss
limited presence), and the vernacular victim. Further, the media must perform
http://uksresearch.readyhosting.com/
and regional-language media that have a their most pertinent task; educating PublicationsPDFs/Code%20Of%20Ethics%20
huge presence and great influence. and informing the public that killing/ Final.pdf
Regarding Qandeels murder, what murder in the name of so-called honour
http://www.uksresearch.com/
message was conveyed through is not condoned by law or morality, PublicationsPDFs/Through%20The%20
repeatedly screening a video clip of and that such killers and murderers Gender%20Lens.pdf

Turkey
After an Attempted Coup
the Journalists Nightmare
Ceren Szeri
J
ournalists in Turkey are enduring the worst period of repression in living
memory. According to Tutuklu Gazetecilerle Dayanma Platformu (The
Solidarity Platform with Detained/Imprisoned Journalists) on 23 October
2016 at least 116 were in prison. The Journalists Union of Turkey states that
10,000 (almost one-third) have lost their jobs since 2013; 3,000 after the coup
attempt on 15 July 2016. The day after the attempted coup more than a dozen
news sites were blocked by the telecommunications regulator.
On 20 July, President Erdoan declared a three-month state of
emergency and partially suspended the European Convention on
Human Rights. Since then, the Turkish government has been able
to rule by decree and can pass bills that have the force of law: 16
television channels, 23 radio stations, three news agencies, 45 daily
newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishing houses with links to the
opposition Glen movement have been ordered to shut down.
At the end of September, 12 television channels and 11 radio stations
Keeping the Ethical most of them pro-Kurdish were shut down by decree no.668,
which allows for closure without a court order on the grounds of being
Flame Alive in Turkish related to terrorist organisations or being a threat to national security.
Further, all their property can be confiscated by the state. Some
Journalism newspapers are still surviving, however.

On 5 October 2016 an amendment came into force on the bylaw
controlling the Press Advertisement Authority, which allocates official
advertisements and announcements to print media. The amendment rules
that newspapers which do not fire journalists tried under the Anti-Terror
Law (TMK) within five days will not benefit from official advertisements.
Just in the second quarter of 2016, 56 journalists have been tried in
Is ethical journalism possible in a accordance with that law and six have been sentenced to 15 years in prison
in total, according to a BA Media Monitoring report.
country like Turkey where journalists
At the beginning of November the purge continued when police
are being targeted in a crackdown on
detained and charged the editor and several writers of opposition
press independence unprecedented in the newspaper Cumhuriyet, one of Turkeys oldest and most-respected
countrys democratic history? newspapers. Editor Murat Sabuncu, a cartoonist and seven board
members were sent to prison to await trial on terrorism-related
The answer, regrettably, is almost certainly not. charges. In August the papers former editor Can Dndar fled the
The self-censorship reported by the EJN and others country into exile after being sentenced to five years in prison on
in recent years has now completely overwhelmed spying charges.
newsrooms. Critical voices are silent. The
pervasive atmosphere is of fear and intimidation.
During 2016 the EJN was among a group of media Accreditation Used for Censorship
freedom support groups to receive a solidarity The government is not only intervening in editorial policy but is also
award from the Turkish Journalists Association. targeting journalists directly by, for example, excluding parliamentary
We were honoured to receive it, but we dont fool reporters and the Ankara representatives of dissident media outlets.
ourselves into thinking that the perilous conditions A prominent journalist from Cumhuriyet said that the bureaucracy
for journalism will change anytime soon. in Ankara provides information only to journalists from pro-
International protests play a key role in government media who already act like members of the ruling party.
putting pressure on the government and must It is impossible to leak any criticism of the government.
continue. But equally important will be to provide In press conferences there is a hierarchy that ranks media as pro-
continuing support and to create new initiatives government, mainstream and opposition. Sometimes we are not invited
that will keep the ethical flame alive in the to press conferences on critical issues. Opposition media can access
countrys stricken media industry. insider information but only off the record.
The EJN will engage with media leaders in Previously, he added, parliamentary reporters could get off-the-
Turkey in the coming months to promote internal record briefings after Cabinet meetings but after 2002, when the ruling
systems of ethical management, transparency Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, that stopped.
and self-regulation within a media industry that Sultan zer, the former Ankara representative of Evrensel daily,
has suffered from a flawed system of politicised whose accreditation for the prime ministers office was cancelled in
ownership that has weakened journalism for years 2008, said it happened because of a question I asked in written form.
and long before the current crisis. They claimed my lack of continuity of attendance as a reason. But
We will also promote more effective media literacy journalists cannot be subject to compulsory attendance. I sued and
and information programmes, particularly with won after two-and-a-half years. I should add that you cannot follow
young people and in co-operation with universities, any meetings in AKPs head office without accreditation from the
to help develop a deeper understanding of the prime ministers office.
importance of pluralism and diversity in the public She also stated that we cannot get an appointment for any minister
information sphere. or bureaucrat. They never allow us to ask a question. If a reporter
Such initiatives will not make headlines (and asks any critical question even from the mainstream media their
currently that is probably a good thing) but they newsrooms are asked never to send them to further meetings.
will help Turkish editors and reporters keep in Its alleged that the government has controlled questions in press
touch with the values of ethical journalism and, conferences. In 2010, a reporter from TRT (Turkish Radio Television
when conditions permit, to rebuild a culture of Corporation the Public Service Broadcaster) asked about a price
independent journalism that will put democracy rise for natural gas in Turkey, but directed the question to the prime
back on track. minister of Bulgaria instead of Recep Tayyip Erdoan, at that time

Turkeys prime minister. Immediately Erdoan intervened by down. I tweet judiciously. I hardly go to demonstrations
saying he had asked the wrong man then answered the question. even for free speech.
zer has complained not only about discrimination against A freelance journalist and fixer said he has rejected all
media seen as dissident by the government but also about requests from foreign journalists and media outlets after the
a lack of solidarity among journalists. She said: When you coup attempt: I worked with foreigners for years. But I gave
asked a critical question about government policies some up after this July. Why? Suggesting that we are going to make a
colleagues reacted before the spokesperson. Last year during vox pop or an interview with a person against the government,
the Minimum Wage Commission Boards press meeting I before, I knew that nothing would happen at the worst we
asked if it was possible to survive on this minimum wage. The could be taken into custody for a short time. But now, I could
employers representative challenged me in a harsh tone. foresee anything; the journalist I work with could be deported
Recently, when 664 press cards were cancelled by the and I can be considered as a terrorist and put in jail for weeks
Directorate General of Press and Information of the Office or maybe years.
of the Prime Ministry, the reaction of journalists and media The crackdowns turned into a witch hunt. Nobody, especially
organisations was weak. The selective dissemination of press journalists, feels safe, they just try to survive. A popular
cards and other accreditation, plus restricting access to official columnist from mainstream media explains: Self-censorship
press meetings to select media organs should be considered is so ingrained in me I dont know what I will write if tomorrow
state censorship and journalists should unite against them. the repression disappears.
Self-censorship is Alarming Conclusion and Recommendations

after the Coup Attempt Today, we are facing the worst crackdown on press freedom.
In addition to official censorship, self-censorship is Almost every international organisation calls the government
widespread. Journalists and media do it out of fear of of Turkey to stop jailing journalists, shutting down radio
government reprisal. Many people, including Cumhuriyets and TV channels and censoring the internet in an attempt to
Can Dndar have left the country. Dndar and the papers silence criticism.
Ankara representative Erdem Gl were imprisoned for 92 days The alarming rise in state censorship is threatening the future
after their stories on Turkish intelligence trucks bound for Syria of journalism, particularly political reporting. Before it is too
were published in early 2014. late the government should heed these recommendations:
Later, Dndar was attacked in an attempted shooting outside The State Of Emergency which caused violations of
a courthouse in Istanbul on 6 May 2016. The gunman was fundamental rights after the 15 July coup attempt should be
released after five-and-a-half months in jail. Dndar said: ended immediately.
Nowadays being a journalist is much more dangerous than The government should stop journalism and release all
ever and needs courage and self-confidence. jailed journalists.
In these circumstances, self-censorship itself becomes a
Radio and TV closures should be rescinded.
protective shield for journalists. The noxious climate created
by government and state repression puts all dissident voices Government officials should refrain from all discrimination,
at risk of abuse and reprisals, both from state agencies and the such as selective accreditation, which is considered to be
governments online supporters. censorship.
The International Press Institutes Online project has since Press cards must be issued and disseminated by an
January 2016 monitored coordinated online campaigns by independent body of representatives of journalist unions
supporters of the ruling AKP Party and affiliated trolls to and associations.
silence critical reporting in Turkey. Messages include labels The Press Advertisement Authority should be independent
such as traitor, terrorist or terrorist supporter, as well and transparent in its fair allocation of official
as kafir (infidel). Many threaten violence and death. Asl advertisements and announcements to the print media.
Aydntaba, a prominent journalist, recently wrote a piece
entitled Turkeys repression is destroying my courage and
my health for the Washington Post. She is suffering from Finally
sub-acute thyroiditis due to stress after the coup attempt. She There is a need for stronger solidarity between journalists and
defined the post-coup period as a nightmare. media organisations in struggling with state censorship and to
Over the past year, I find myself intuitively developing a set rebuild trust and credibility in journalism.
of survival techniques to be able to continue writing in Turkey.
It may take some time for the poisoned atmosphere caused by
For example, the Turkish president and his family are off limits
a purge of dissenting voices to dissipate, but more support for
I never write directly about him. I may refer to a statement he
journalism that respects core principles of independence, truth
made or criticise Ankara or a government decision. But the
and humanity will ensure that when this moment of political
subject is never you-know-who.
crisis eases media will be ready to play their part in restoring
I do not touch the topic of corruption. Ever. Where
democracy, pluralism and renewed respect for human rights.
possible, I opt for a foreign policy subject, as opposed to the
domestic situation. I do not mingle with Gulenists or appear At their request some names have been withheld to protect
on their television shows. This is easier since they are all shut individuals and their media outlets.
Contributors
Tasneem Ahmar is an award-winning journalist, writer, of Women in Radio and Television. She has vast experience
broadcaster and activist on media, development and rights in media spanning over 25 years. She holds a Masters in
of women. She holds degrees from universities in Hawaii Communication as well as various professional trainings
and Karachi where she has also been Assistant Professor in which include the prestigious Hubert Humphrey fellowship.
Mass Communications. She heads Uks Research Centre, a Racheal is currently the Africa representative of Ethical
media monitoring organisation, and is a producer for Meri Journalism Network.
Awaz Sunno (hear my voice), a radio programme with a
predominantly female team. She has worked for The Muslim, Bill Orme is an author, editor, and consultant in strategic
and Dawn, daily newspapers in Pakistan. Her journalism on communications and international media development. A
violence against women was presented at the 1995 UN World former correspondent for The Economist and The Washington
Conference on Women in Beijing. In June 2009 she received Post in Latin America and The New York Times in the Middle
the International Media Leadership Award from Internews. East, Bill served in the 1990s as Executive Director of the
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). He later worked
Cherian George is an associate professor at the journalism for the United Nations for 12 years, as spokesman for UN
department of Hong Kong Baptist University, where he Development Programme and advisor on independent media
researches freedom of expression, censorship, and alternative support. He currently works with the Brussels-based Global
media. His latest book is Hate Spin: The Manufacture of Forum for Media Development (GFMD). Contact: bill.orme@
Religious Offense and its Threat to Democracy (MIT Press, gmail.com / +1-917-607-1026
2016). Before entering academia, he was a journalist at The
Straits Times, Singapore. Website: cheriangeorge.net. A.S. Panneerselvan is the Readers Editor of The Hindu, an
independent internal news ombudsman with clear terms of
Gareth Harding is a Brussels-based journalist and media reference. He is a regular columnist and a journalism teacher
trainer and the managing director of Clear Europe, a at the prestigious Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. He
communications company specialising in media training. has wide experience in print and television journalism and he
As an award-winning journalist and expert on European headed the regional media development group Panos South
affairs, he has written for Time magazine, Politico, The New Asia for ten years between 2004 and 2014.
York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Wall Street
Journal, and the Guardian. He is director of the University of Misja Pekel studied Law and Journalism in Amsterdam and
Missouri School of Journalisms Brussels programme and a Leeds.He is a documentary filmmaker at the Dutch public
columnist for EUobserver. He works with the IHECS School broadcasterHuman. Besides (found footage) documentaries
of Communications in Brussels, the European Journalism he is working onMedialogica, a TV series about public
Centre, and the College of Europe in Bruges. opinion and the influence of media.
Chan Chi Kit is assistant professor of the School of Maud van de Reijt isa Dutch investigative
Communication at Hang Seng Management College, Hong journalist and historian. She works for public
Kong. His research covers journalism, media sociology, and broadcastersHumanandVPRO, producing television and
Hong Kong identity and risk communication. He has written radio programmes. As a researcher forMedialogicashe
for international journals such as Journalism: Theory, Practice specialises in public opinion and the influence of media on
and Criticism, Chinese Journal of Communication, and China society.
Perspectives. He writes columns in Hong Kongs newspapers
and provides commentary on radio and television outlets. Ceren Szeri is Associate Professor and faculty member
at the Communications Department of Galatasaray
Ewen MacAskill has been with the Guardian for 20 years, University. She has published on political economy of the
starting as chief political correspondent and then as media, media policies, freedom of the press, ethical issues,
diplomatic editor, Washington bureau chief and New York- discrimination and hate speech in Turkey. She has been the
based reporter, and is at present defence and intelligence EJNs representative in Turkey since 2015. She is also part of
correspondent. He has covered UK politics, the Israeli- Ben Gazeteciyim [I am a journalist] initiative for solidarity in
Palestinian conflict, the Iraq war and Barack Obamas two Turkey.
White House elections. He was part of the Guardian team that
won the Pulitzer Public Service Medal in 2013 for its coverage Aidan White is the Director of the Ethical Journalism
of the Edward Snowden leaks. He is a fellow of Nuffield Network. He has worked as a journalist in the UK including
College, Oxford. for The Guardian and for 24 years was the General Secretary
of the International Federation of Journalists based in
Racheal Nakitare is the Assistant Television Programmes Brussels. He is the author of the 2008 book To Tell You the
Manager with Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and TRUTH on ethics, self-regulation and good governance in
immediate former President of the International Association journalism.
48 ETHICAL
ETHICAL JOURNALISM
JOURNALISM NETWORK
NETWORK (EJN)
(EJN)
About the Ethical
Journalism Network
Our Mission
The Ethical Journalism Network aims to strengthen the craft of
journalism and to promote for the public benefit high ethical standards
in media through education, training and publication of useful research.
The EJN Board: (from left) Zahera Harb, Thomas Spence, Ashok Gupta (Treasurer), Dorothy Byrne (Chair), Aidan White (Director), Randi
grey and Chris Elliott. Missing from the line-up is Bernt Olufsen.
Who we are their work, through information sharing; country

missions; targeted research; and distribution of
The EJN is an independent international reports and materials on matters of contemporary
network of media professionals created to concern to journalists and media professionals
advance education, particularly education in which will be freely available to all;
ethics and respect for human rights. Strengthen co-operation between media
professional groups at national, regional and
As a registered charity in England and Wales the
international level and to work, as appropriate, with
EJN is governed by a board of trustees which is other relevant governmental, intergovernmental
chaired Dorothy Byrne the Head of News and and non-governmental organisations;
Current Affairs at Channel 4 in the UK.
Organise and encourage educational activities
The organisation was founded in the underlying and knowledge exchanges between the media
belief that ethics and respect for human rights, community and civil society.
particularly freedom of expression, is a core Find out more here: http://
element of democracy. Intrinsic to this is an ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/who-we-are/aims-
independent, pluralist media sector rooted in objectives-activities
respect for human rights and where journalists
work freely is essential for a democratic society.
How can I support the EJN?
Find out more here: http://
ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/who-we-are Donate to the EJN by going to: http://
ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/donate
Our supporters Encourage your institution to become a supporter
of the EJN.
The EJN is supported by over 60 international Subscribe to EJN weekly newsletter and follow us
organisations including press councils, on twitter @EJNetwork or like us on facebook and
journalist associations, media development find us other social media platforms:
groups and members of the freedom of
expression community.
Find out more here: http://
ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/supporters
Contact us
The EJNs Aims and Objectives Aidan White, Director and Chief Executive Officer
aidan.white@ethicaljournalismnetwork.org
Promote respect for the status of journalism by
@aidanpwhite
enhancing levels of skill and knowledge of ethical
principles within media, particularly through Tom Law, Director of Campaigns and Communications
training and education of journalists, media tom.law@ethicaljournalismnetwork.org
managers and owners; @tomlawmedia
Prepare reports on the current ethical challenges The Ethical Journalism Network is a registered charity in
and governance issues affecting journalists and England and Wales. Charity No. 1166150

The Global Word of 2016
Post-truth
Definition: an adjective relating to or denoting circumstances in which
objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals
to emotion and personal belief.
Adopted and included in Oxford dictionaries for the first time in 2016, the compilers
report that the term has been most used in the context of the EU referendum in the United
Kingdom and the presidential election in the United States.
Ethical www.ethicaljournalismnetwork.org
EJN Journalism
Network
twitter.com/EJNetwork
aidanpatrickwhite@gmail.com

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Ethics in the News

EJN Report on Challenges for Journalism in the Post-truth Era

Designed by Mary Schrider (mary.schrider@gmail.com)

Photo credits Page 25: Thierry Ehrmann (licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Trumped: How US Media Played the Wrong Hand on Right-Wing Success............................6

Fake News: Facebook and Matters of Fact in the Post-Truth Era...........................................14

Refugee Images: Ethics in the Picture.......................................................................................18

Five Point Guide For Migration Reporting...............................................................................21

Ethical Ground Rules for Handling Sources.............................................................................25

Hate Speech: A Dilemma for Journalists the World Over........................................................29

When Media Become Foot-Soldiers On the highest Front line..............................................33

Locusts, Hotdogs and Leftards..................................................................................................39

Turning the Page of Hate: A Media Campaign for Tolerance in Journalism..........................42

Attention Media: There is No HONOUR in Killing!................................................................43

Turkey: After an Attempted Coup the Journalists Nightmare................................................45

About the Ethical Journalism Network.....................................................................................49

Truth-Telling and Ethics Remain

4 ETHICAL JOURNALISM NETWORK (EJN)

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Facebook and Matters of

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16 ETHICAL JOURNALISM NETWORK (EJN)

Tips for Exposing Fake News

18 ETHICAL JOURNALISM NETWORK (EJN)

20 ETHICAL JOURNALISM NETWORK (EJN)

1 Facts not bias

2 Know the law 3 Show humanity

4 Speak for all

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There is a risk of journalists becoming too close to

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When Human Rights Trump Protection of Sources

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TURNING THE PAGE OF HATE

A media campaign for tolerance in journalism

Is there a history of conflict or

Should they even be listened to

42 Dont sensationalise!Avoid the rush to Publish Take a moment of reflection

44 ETHICAL JOURNALISM NETWORK (EJN)

Journalism newspapers are still surviving, however.

46 ETHICAL JOURNALISM NETWORK (EJN)

Self-censorship is Alarming Conclusion and Recommendations

Who we are their work, through information sharing; country

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52 ETHICAL JOURNALISM NETWORK (EJN)

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