Prof. Hudson McLean

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To my great disbelief I was informed that some leading journalists employed by some of the Top Sri Lankan Media, are demanding a minimum of One Lakh to accept & publish a Press Release!

This is a Gross Violation of Media Ethics!

Worse than Prostitution.

If this is the case can anyone believe the Sri Lanka Media Publications?

Also I understood that “Plagiarism” and “Stealing” content and images without written permission is a “Way of Life” to breach Copyright.

I would give this particular “journalist?” and the publication one Final Chance before I publish details on FB, Twitter, for all to see and Beware!

For those who are interested to learn the Guideline, here is the Code of Conduct-;

Code of Conduct of National Union of Journalists (NUJ) of United Kingdom

The NUJ’s Code of Conduct has set out the main principles of British and Irish journalism since 1936. The code is part of the rules and all journalists joining the union must sign that they will strive to adhere to the it.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Members of the National Union of Journalists are expected to abide by the following professional principles:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A journalist:

1. At all times upholds and defends the principle of media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed

2. Strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair

3. Does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies

4. Differentiates between fact and opinion

5. Obtains material by honest, straightforward and open means, with the exception of investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means

6. Does nothing to intrude into anybodyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest

7. Protects the identity of sources who supply information in confidence and material gathered in the course of her/his work

8. Resists threats or any other inducements to influence, distort or suppress information and takes no unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of her/his duties before the information is public knowledge

9. Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a personƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation

10. Does not by way of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial product or service save for the promotion of her/his own work or of the medium by which she/he is employed

11. A journalist shall normally seek the consent of an appropriate adult when interviewing or photographing a child for a story about her/his welfare.

12. Avoids plagiarism.

The NUJ believes a journalist has the right to refuse an assignment or be identified as the author of editorial that would break the letter or spirit of the code. The NUJ will fully support any journalist disciplined for asserting her/his right to act according to the code.

(Modified 2011)

Find out more about NUJ ethics and read the NUJ guidance here –

http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2226
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