wfn.org | Episcopalians: Code of Fair Practices

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

April 29, 2002

2002-104s

Episcopalians: Code of Fair Practices

The following Code of Fair Practices was developed during a 
conference called "Megaphones and Muffled Voices" on what 
constitutes full and fair media coverage of Israeli-Palestinian 
issues. The conference, held in New York City, April 17-18, 
2002, was sponsored by the World Association for Christian 
Communication, its North American Regional Association, and the 
Communication Commission of the National Council of Churches, 
U.S.A.

Conference participants included public and religious 
communicators and professors from several noted journalism 
schools. The participants included media professionals from 
Israel, Palestine and Jordan as well as from Europe, the U.S. 
and Canada. They developed the Code of Fair Practices under the 
leadership of John Zakarian, editor of the editorial page of 
The Hartford Courant. In the statement that follows, the 
term journalist refers to any non-government person engaged in 
the gathering and dissemination of information and opinion 
through electronic or print media. This includes reporters, 
opinion writers, editors, publishers, general managers and 
producers.

The primary mission of journalists is to offer readers, 
viewers and listeners a rough first draft of history as it is 
being made. By definition, this draft is not always complete, 
often presenting facts without adequate context, filing reports 
in a hurry and sending pictures that emphasize immediate action 
and consequences. Still, there is more to informing the public 
than merely relaying raw data quickly.

To prepare coherent accounts of events, reporters and editors 
routinely filter and condense the vast amount of available 
information into a coherent package. They attempt to separate 
the wheat from the chaff. Information gatherers and gatekeepers 
fulfill their responsibilities best when they observe the 
following guidelines:

1. The best of journalists do not only report what they see, 
hear or are told by official sources. They dig beneath the 
surface. They strive to get the other side or sides of the story 
and rely on diverse sources.

2. Balance of coverage is not achieved only in providing equal 
space or time to each side. There is no balance when an 
articulate, moderate and charismatic person is asked to 
represent one side and an uncompromising, militant, fiery and 
inarticulate ideologist is offered as a representative of the 
other side.

3. Headlines should reflect the content of the story. 
Photographs should give a fair and accurate image of an event 
and not exaggerate an incident simply because the photograph is 
exceptionally dramatic.

4. As much as possible, journalists should understand the 
language, the history and the culture of the people they cover. 
They should not totally rely on interpreters provided by 
particular causes or governments.

5. Covering such a sensitive, nuance-ridden subject as the 
Arab-Israeli conflict, journalists should be careful in using 
such loaded words and cliches as "terrorists" "gunmen," "Islamic 
bombers" and "fatalistic" Muslims.

6. In presenting stories, there should be a clear distinction 
between news reports and expressions of opinion. News should be 
free of bias. Columnists should stake their positions by 
verifiable facts rather than secondary sources or reports. Op-ed 
articles by advocacy groups should be clearly labeled as such.

7. As a marketplace for ideas, the news media, particularly 
newspapers, magazines and periodicals, have a responsibility to 
publish all sides of controversial issues by inviting "op-ed" 
contributions and letters to the editor.

8. Journalists should have the courage of well-founded 
convictions and a healthy sense of fair play. They should never 
write anything that goes against their conscience.

9. Although pledges of confidentiality should be honored, they 
should be made sparingly - and only when the journalist deems it 
to serve the public's need for information.

10. Journalists are more self-critical about their work than 
their readers or viewers frequently give them credit. 
Journalists should also encourage thoughtful public input about 
their work.

11. Journalists should expect access from governments at all 
levels, especially from those that profess to honor democracy. 
So-called closed military zones and blanket orders prohibiting 
coverage in combat zones ill serve democracy.

12. Editorial criticism of a government's policy should not be 
equated as criticism or derision of an entire nation or class of 
people.

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