BROADCAST JOURNALISM EHTICS FOR NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM: REFLECTIONS OF PENALTIES WITH KBP CODE PROF. JEFFREY P. DEATRAS BABC, MPSDC, PH.D (CANDIDATE)

Ethical goals of news program  News and public affairs programs shall aim primarily to inform the public on important current events and issues rather than merely to entertain  KBP CODE RELEVANCE: It is strongly advised that the provision should be observed. No penalty other than censure is prescribed but the KBP highly recommends its implementation.

Ethical requirements for news  News shall be part of the station’s daily programming. No less than 30 minutes of daily programming should be devoted to news  KBP CODE RELEVANCE:  Violation of this code will receive sanctions as SERIOUS OFFENSE.

Fairness and Objectivity in News  News shall be fair, factual, and objective  Receiving bribes, gifts, privileges or any consideration to favor one side of the story, stop a story from airing, or put any person in either bad or favorable light is prohibited.  KBP CODE RELEVANCE:  Violation of this code will receive sanctions as GRAVE OFFENSE

Fairness and Objectivity in News  Side comments expressing personal opinions while a news item is being reported or delivered are prohibited to prevent the audience from mistaking opinion for news  When presented as part of news program, editorials or commentaries must be identified as such and presented as distinct from news reports  KBP CODE RELEVANCE:  Violation of this code will receive sanctions as SERIOUS OFFENSE

Journalism Ethics in News Sources  Care must be taken in selecting news sources since the credibility of the news rests upon its sources.  Only news that can be attributed to a news shall be aired. When a source cannot be named, the reason for this must be made clear in the news report.  KBP CODE RELEVANCE:  Violation of this code will receive sanctions as GRAVE OFFENSE

Journalism Ethics in News Sources  News sources must be clearly identified, except when confidentiality of the source was a condition for giving the information.  Information provided by confidential sources may be aired only if it is in the public interest for doing so.  KBP CODE RELEVANCE:  Violation of this code will receive sanctions as SERIOUS TO GRAVE OFFENSE

Journalism Ethics in News Sources  Before airing information news from confidential source, another source should corroborate the information.  Press release may be used as news sources after sources are verified and authenticated.  KBP CODE RELEVANCE:  Violation of this code will receive sanctions as SERIOUS OFFENSE

Journalism Ethics in News Sources  Suspects or fugitives of the law may be interviewed as news sources but the act and information should not aid, encourage, or accompany their planning or committing a crime  Rumors or gossips should not be aired in the guise of the news. Anonymous, confidential, or unknown source shall not justify the rumors.  KBP CODE RELEVANCE:  Violation of this code will receive sanctions as SERIOUS TO GRAVE OFFENSE