Mr. Hydara:

Although it appears you are not responding to my note directly, I see that
your salutation was to “Friends” myself included, I hope. So, I am also
obliged to defend what I wrote in response to the blunder by the Daily
Observer reporter. You wrote:

<<I think some clarification about this issue is needed. The papers can
publish postings.>>

With all due respect Mr. Hydara, I do not think I have mentioned in my note
that the papers cannot publish postings nor did I insinuate thus.
Therefore, I do not think a clarification is necessary on my part.

<<Your perception is wrong. The Net is perceived as a means of nullifying
censorship and you say people should not use materials from it. >>

What is my perception, as you understand it? That what the Daily Observer
reporter did was illegal, immoral and unethical. Please show me proof that
what the reporter did was contrary to what I perceived it to be and I will
be obliged.

 <<Are you advocating for censorship in the net? Why is the net celebrated
for its potential to ensure free flow of unfetted information and opinions?
>>

I do not think that my suggestion that a point of contact be established
between list members and reporters back home is what you are referring to
as advocating censorship. This is just intended to avoid amateurish
reporting based on information from the web forums. This should provide
better authority if the reporter were to write a story based on information
posted on the web forum. My suggestion should beneficial to both the papers
and their audience in reserving the integrity of the story in question.
Just as you mentioned in the later part of your response, we do not expect
you to publish everything sent to the forum for sake of safeguarding your
professional integrity, we demand nothing less of those who decide to
publish what we write on these forums. Mr. Hydara, I don't think there is
any doubt that you've distanced yourself from the unprofessional
journalists both in what you and your staff write and the way you present
it to your readers.

<<Now you said all newspapers here do it and I am obliged to clarfy as far
as The Point is concerned………….>>

I think this statement is in response to someone else. I think most people
will agree with me that yours is one that has garnered much respect for the
professional integrity of your reporting. Doubtless.

<<Of course, we cannot publish all what you post in our newspapers because
unlike you we have to publish in accordance with the media laws in this
country. We would avoid sedition, libel, false information and the like. >>

That’s what we’re talking about isn’t it? Safeguarding the ethos of
professional journalism as it pertains web forums and other Internet
sources.

Mr. Hydara, I think that this should be good reason for the Gambia Press
Union to organize a forum to discuss the ethics of web journalism. In my
humble opinion, most of these reporters, particularly the one at the Daily
Observer, do not have a clue as to how to deal with web sources or was this
a case of unprofessional negligence?

Please allow me to reproduce below the Journalist Code of Ethics as posted
by the Society of Professional Journalists on their web site at
<http://www.spj.org/ethics_code.asp> for the benefit of those who are not
aware of it including the Daily Observer reporter, whom I presume, will be
reading this response as usual.

With due respect,

-BambaLaye

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Code of Ethics
Ethics > SPJ Code of Ethics

Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public
enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy.
The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and
providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.
Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve
the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the
cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a
dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's
principles and standards of practice.


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Seek Truth and Report It

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting
and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to
avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity
to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much
information as possible on sources' reliability.
Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify
conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep
promises.
Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos,
video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent.
They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for
technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo
illustrations.
Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is
necessary to tell a story, label it.
Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information
except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to
the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
Never plagiarize.
Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience
boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on
others.
Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography,
sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information
can be equally valid.
Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary
should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines
between the two.
Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is
conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

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Minimize Harm

Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings
deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage.
Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced
sources or subjects.
Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those
affected by tragedy or grief.
Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or
discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information
about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power,
influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify
intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of
charges.
Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to
be informed.

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Act Independently

Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the
public's right to know.

Journalists should:

Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or
damage credibility.
Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun
secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in
community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist
their pressure to influence news coverage.
Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding
for news.

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Be Accountable

Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each
other.

Journalists should:

Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over
journalistic conduct.
Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

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The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of
writers, editors and other news professionals. The present version of
the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months
of study and debate among the Society's members.

Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the
American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi
wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996.

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