JMI Launches Code of Conduct for Coverage of Parliamentary Elections

The Jordan Media Institute (JMI) yesterday, Monday, launched a professional and ethical code of conduct for media coverage of the Jordanian parliamentary elections. The code includes 10 fundamental principles agreed on by groups of media persons from various media outlets with the aim of providing media coverage for the election process characterized by high quality, accuracy, and fairness.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Dr. Khaled Kalaldeh, chairman of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), who sponsored the ceremony for announcing the code, said that self-regulation by the media body is one of the key achievements of the current electoral process. This is because ethical commitment is a criterion of transparency and professionalism associated with press ethics. He also pointed out that the media and the IEC are partners in the electoral process with a view to making it succeed and giving it an objective and serious character. He noted that the initiative by some media entities to issue the code is a positive move, which must be built on. He affirmed that self-regulation by the media body is classified as the highest degree of transparency, integrity, and objectivity.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> He indicated that the IEC only applies and enforces the law. It operates within a supervisory framework involving several parties, led by the media. He said that self-regulation by the media would strengthen and support the IEC efforts and make the media a true partner in enhancing the quality of the electoral process. Kalaldeh appealed to media outlets not to conceal any information that pertains to the elections. He noted that belief in the role of the media as a partner and monitor would enable the electoral process to achieve additional successes and contribute to the realization of goals sought by everybody.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> JMI Dean Basim Tweissi affirmed that the code is the fruit of efforts and cooperation that followed a series of meetings and workshops held by JMI recently. He indicated that it expresses the views of a large spectrum of the Jordanian media community. Speaking in a meeting at JMI on Monday, attended by IEC Chief Commissioner Dr. Khaled Kalaldeh and Jordan News Agency (Petra) Director General Faisal Al Shboul, Tweissi said that the code includes general principles to serve as a guide for media coverage for all journalists and media persons.&nbsp; He lauded the efforts of partners and supporters to produce the code in its final form. He noted that cooperation between JMI and the IEC and media institutions has played a role in this achievement, which is an initiative for supporting efforts of media self-regulation during the various stages of the election.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Tweissi pointed out that three reports would be issued during the electoral process to monitor the actual implementation of the code. He said that the first report would be issued after the stage of official registration; the second would be issued during the stage of election campaigns; and the third would monitor the period of election silence and how the media handles the voting and the announcement of the results.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> He highlighted the importance of the code of conduct as a terms of reference for journalists to benefit them in offering fair and balanced coverage of the Jordanian parliamentary elections. He said that having a document to enlighten media persons would make media coverage easier, clearer, and more transparent. The code will also ensure independence, accuracy, fairness, and lack of conflict of interest.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> He said that the code is an opportunity, which the media and media persons must seize as an instrument for self-regulation, based on ethical considerations away from laws. He noted that the code would also provide an opportunity for showing the extent of independence of the media and media persons during the electoral process.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> The issuance of the code comes within a project to monitor media coverage of the parliamentary elections 2016, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which is part of a project to support civil society initiatives implemented by FHI 360.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Dr. Sakhr Khasawneh had earlier presented the code and explained its most important ethical and professional principles. The code includes the following:<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Key Concepts: The code of conduct refers to a set of principles that aim at ensuring professional, fair, and balanced coverage of the elections.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> - Journalists are aware that abidance by this code is a personal and voluntary commitment, which emanates from the rules of self-regulation of the profession of press and media.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> - Journalists are aware that professional rules and ethics of journalistic work are either regulated by laws whose violation entails legal liability or are based on a personal commitment. Therefore, this code cannot be used as a legal instrument since abidance by it is a personal, voluntary and ethical commitment with the aim of improving the performance of the media and achieving independence, accuracy, fairness, and lack of conflict of interest.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> - Journalists are aware that this code does not restrict or undermine media freedoms. Rather, it underscores the role of the media in observing the electoral process, including violations that could occur by candidates, voters, or official entities or other supervisory bodies.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> General Principles: First, media outlets and journalists shall be careful to cover the electoral process based on the rules of fairness, integrity, and objectivity, including the election campaigns of candidates and lists fairly, impartially, and without discrimination and not give preference or show bias toward any of them.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Second, to ensure accuracy in coverage, journalists shall use the rules of verification of information, including content produced on social media and personal blogs.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Third, media outlets and journalists shall be careful to separate news items from opinion pieces and fact from speculation, and shall respect the principle of protecting sources and their confidentiality.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Fourth, media outlets and journalists shall see to it that no conflict of interest takes place in covering the elections by:<br /> &nbsp;<br /> - Not accepting gifts, donations, and grants from candidates. Journalists must not bring advertisements by candidates and must not receive commission or percentage from candidates. &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> - Journalists must not accept managing paid campaigns by candidates while carrying out their work.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> - Media outlets must make it clear to the public when messages or media content are paid.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Fifth, media outlets and journalists must be careful in handling the results of opinion polls to avoid influencing voters by verifying the professional character and credibility of the entity that conducted those polls.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Sixth, media outlets and journalists shall be careful not to publish or broadcast any materials that call for or instigate violence and/or discrimination, whether explicitly or implicitly, or publish any form of hate speech. They shall be careful also not to publish or broadcast slander or defamation of any of the candidates or speak about their personal life.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Seventh, media outlets and journalists shall be careful, when publishing, taking, or broadcasting pictures or audiovisual recordings, to abide by professional, ethical, and legal rules, intellectual property rights, and respect for private life.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Eighth, media outlets and journalists shall be careful to ensure the right to reply and correction to any person who is harmed and as soon as possible in line with the legal and professional principles that regulate this right.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Ninth, media outlets and journalists shall pay attention to the issues of special groups, women, youth, juveniles, persons with disability, and old people.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Tenth, journalists shall be committed to rejecting any external pressures or any form of influence or directives with the exception of the instructions and directives issued by the editorial boards in their institutions.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> The code of conduct is based on a draft and a set of rules that regulate media coverage of the elections, inspired by international principles and experiences of countries that are advanced in this domain, with modifications to fit the legislative, media, and local environment of Jordan to help enhance the quality of media content. &nbsp;