ETHICS CODE FOR JOURNALISM

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26121, 25 May 1950, Page 3

ETHICS CODE FOR JOURNALISM

PROPOSALS AMENDED BY U.N. BODY TWO CLAUSES DELETED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) MONTEVIDEO, May 23. The United States professional viewpoint on ethics won an important victory yesterday in the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Freedom o# Information and the Press. A sub-committee, by a five to three vote with one abstention and three absentees, including Britain, deleted two paragraphs of the proposed journalistic code. These paragraphs would have laid down as the duties of all who handled news, the making of an effort towards the peaceful solution of all disputes and problems, the fostering of understanding and co-operation and the discouragement of the view “that there may be disputes between States which can be solved only by violent means.” All who report or edit news also would have been called on not to disseminate information which was likely to cause prejudice, mistrust, hatred or contempt for other peoples or States, or convey a false impression concerning their civilisation nor culture. Mr Carol Binder, the United States delegate, said: “The important thing is to make available accurate news of what is going on in the world.” The sub-commission previously approved the third paragraph of the code which lays down that all engaged in gathering, transmitting, disseminating and commenting on news shall seek to maintain full public confidence in the integrity and dignity of their profession. The paragraph also provides that full responsibility shall be taken for all information and comments published. News concerning private lives of indix duals shall not be published unless it is in the public interest to do so. The third paragraph adds: Privilege ■ of professional secrecy may always be invoked, taking the law of the country into account.