MYANMAR MEDIA CODE OF CONDUCT

Identify standards in Myanmar Media Code of Conduct that will guide your career as a journalist.

Starting point for Myanmar Code

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” – 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

“

Myanmar Code says:

Irresponsible or unethical conduct puts media freedoms at risk”

“By takomabibelot

What is the Myanmar Code?• Adopted by Myanmar Press Council (Interim) after consultation with journalists nationwide.

• Individuals alleging a media outlet has violated the code can complain to the council.

• Council will investigate and release its findings.

If the council finds a violation?It can require the media outlet to:Publish a notice that it’s violated the code and how

Apologize to the person complaining

Provide a right of reply to the person complaining

Publish a correctionBy frankieleon

Press council member U Thiha Saw on government’s failure to use the council

June 17, 2015

Press council member U Thiha Saw on government’s failure to use the council

June 17, 2015

Many similarities to SPJ CodeSeek truth and report it• Be accurate, balanced, impartial, fair and

respect others.• Attribute information.

Minimize harm• Use sensitivity with those suffering.• Weigh the consequences of publishing

personal information.

Act independently• Avoid conflicts of interest.• Refuse gifts.• Do not pay for access to news.

Be accountable and transparent• Correct errors promptly.

More specific than SPJ Code• 3.2 Media have an obligation to protect confidential

sources. • 7.5 Individuals should be told when a phone

conversation is being recorded. • 9.3 Someone’s refusal to be interviewed should be

described in neutral terms.• 10.2 Race, ethnicity and religion should not be

identified except where this information is directly relevant.

• 26.1 Reporters should not use financial info to benefit themselves before it’s publicly available.

More specific than SPJ Code

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/war-on-leaks-national-security-press-freedom/

3.2 Media have an obligation to protect confidential sources.

More specific than SPJ Code

Confidential source:• Someone who provides information to a journalist

on the condition that he or she not be identified.

Subpoena:• a written order that commands someone to appear

in court to give evidence

Wiretap:• to place a device on someone's phone to secretly

listen to calls

Warrant:• a document issued by a court that gives the police

the power to do something

Vocabulary review

More specific than SPJ Code7.5 Individuals should be told when a phone conversation is being recorded.

Exception: • When information is “of public interest” and

could not have been obtained by other means

By

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More specific than SPJ Code

Which is more neutral?

A.U Kyaw Soe refused to be interviewed.

B.U Kyaw Soe declined to be interviewed.

Which is more neutral?

C.U Kyaw Soe was unavailable for comment.

D.U Kyaw Soe refused to return a phone call.

9.3 Someone’s refusal to be interviewed should be described in neutral terms.

More specific than SPJ Code

Major racial/ethnic groups in the United States:• Black = African American• White = Caucasian• Latino = Hispanic• Asian American• Indian = Native American

10.2 Race, ethnicity and religion should not be identified except where this information is directly relevant.

From http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/not-so-black-and-white/Content?oid=1878067

More specific than SPJ Code

1. Is it relevant?

2. Have I explained the relevance?

3. Is it free of codes?welfare, inner-city, underprivileged, blue collar, conservative, suburban, exotic, middle-class, Uptown, South Side, or wealthy

4. Are racial identifiers used evenly?

5. Should I ask someone of another race/ethnicity?

5 questions to ask before identifying someone by race, ethnicity or religion

From Keith Woods, The Poynter Institute: http://www.poynter.org/uncategorized/1749/guidelines-for-racial-identification/

More specific than SPJ Code

1. Is it relevant?

2. Have I explained the relevance?

3. Is it free of codes?

4. Are racial identifiers used evenly?

5. Should I ask someone of another race/ethnicity?

5 questions to ask before identifying someone by race, ethnicity or religion

From Keith Woods, The Poynter Institute: http://www.poynter.org/uncategorized/1749/guidelines-for-racial-identification/

July 21, 2011

More specific than SPJ Code

Use race only as part of a very detailed description that provides enough information to aid in the capture of a suspect. 

Which is more detailed and helpful?

A. She said he was a white man wearing a red cap.

B. She said he was a white man, 5-foot-8, about 165 pounds, between 19 and 24, with short blond hair and tattoos on both biceps.

What about using race when describing a suspect police are seeking?

From Steve Parker, St. Louis Post-Dispatch http://www.stltoday.com/.../article_6b27e8b4-f43e-5e30-89d3-dd779efbe4b0.html

More specific than SPJ Code

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/11/us/chapel-hill-shooting/

Feb. 12, 2015

5 questions to ask before identifying someone by race, ethnicity or religion

1. Is it relevant?

2. Have I explained the relevance?

3. Is it free of codes?

4. Are racial identifiers used evenly?

5. Should I ask someone of another race/ethnicity?

More specific than SPJ Code5 questions to ask before identifying someone by race, ethnicity or religion

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/06/19/white-state-senators-powerful-response-to-charleston-mass-shooting-moves-black-church-pastor-to-tears/

June 19, 2015

1. Is it relevant?

2. Have I explained the relevance?

3. Is it free of codes?

4. Are racial identifiers used evenly?

5. Should I ask someone of another race/ethnicity?

More specific than SPJ Code

In Myanmar:• 135 different ethnic groups recognized by the government

• Rohingya not recognized

10.2 Race, ethnicity and religion should not be identified except where this information is directly relevant.

More specific than SPJ CodeIs race, ethnicity or religion directly relevant?

Oct. 15, 2014

1. Is it relevant?

2. Have I explained the relevance?

3. Is it free of codes?

4. Are racial identifiers used evenly?

5. Should I ask someone of another race/ethnicity?

More specific than SPJ CodeIs race, ethnicity or religion directly relevant?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-18395788

July 3, 2014

More specific than SPJ CodeIs race, ethnicity or religion directly relevant?

Aung Zaw, editor of The Irrawaddy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02tfmbl

June 11, 2015

More specific than SPJ CodeIs race, ethnicity or religion directly relevant?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33192133

June 19, 2015

More specific than SPJ CodeIs race, ethnicity or religion directly relevant?

Feb. 17, 2015

More specific than SPJ CodeIs race, ethnicity or religion directly relevant?

March 31, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/31/burmese-government-draft-ceasefire-rebel-groups

More specific than SPJ Code26.1 Reporters should not use financial info to benefit themselves before it’s publicly available.

• Traded on what was going to be in his Wall Street Journal column

• Made $31,000• Convicted of insider

trading in 1985• Served nine months

in prisonhttp://fortune.com/2015/01/09/take-note-bob-mcdonnell-9-financial-criminals-who-made-good-after-prison/

“IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST”Appears at least 24 times in the text of the code

ONLY if “in the public interest”5.1 Can publish info about people’s private lives

without their consent7.2 Can use deception, including secretly recording

others and failing to identify oneself as journalist if info could not be obtained by other means

9.4 Can interview someone anonymously on TV9.6 Can “doorstep,” or catch people unaware for an

interview14.1 Can identify victims of sexual crimes or child

witnesses in sex-offence cases if permitted by law 22.3 Can pay criminals for news in exceptional cases

if info cannot be obtained by other means

“In the public interest”

Examples: “in the public interest”

•Detection, exposure or prevention or crime or corruption

•Protection of public health and safety

•Preventing the public from being misled on an important matter

•Satisfying an overriding public right to know.

•Revealing the private affairs of public figures is legitimate where relevant to their fitness for their public roles

“In the public interest”

What’s the difference?

In the public interest

Of interest to the publicMere curiosity

Contributes to

public good

“In the public interest”