JOURNALISM GUIDELINES - RTÃ

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Section 9. Editorial Integrity and Independence 9.1 Public Service and Integrity and Independence RTÉ exists to serve the public. The public must have confidence in the integrity and independence of what they hear and see on RTÉ’s services. We have an obligation to be independent of all vested interests and not to compromise ourselves for any reason. RTÉ must be editorially independent of government, business interests, political parties, trade unions, and pressure groups. There is no room for any perception that presenters, reporters or producers personally benefit from their decisions as to who participates in programmes, what products are featured and what issues are discussed. Equally importantly, there must be no grounds for the perception that editorial decisions in some way reflect the personal views of production teams. As citizens, all programme‐makers have rights to their own private views about topics of current debate. These views must not be seen to determine agendas, lines of questioning, or editorial decisions in programming. Mandatory Obligation 4 Programme‐makers must ensure that in their use of social media they avoid damaging perceptions of their own or RTÉ’s impartiality. Mandatory Obligation 5 Any personal, professional, business or financial interest which could call into question the perceived fairness, objectivity or impartiality of a presenter or staff member should be declared to the appropriate editorial manager. If the editorial manager deems that the conflict of interest might be perceived as significant, the Presenter or Reporter may resolve the conflict by not working on the project, or by declaring the interest on‐air. 9.2 Financial journalism To ensure that our audiences can be confident that RTÉ’s output is not undermined by the outside activities or financial interests of any of our people, journalists and presenters covering financial news should register all their shareholdings, financial and business interests or dealings in securities. Insider Dealing and Market Manipulation RTÉ presenters and journalists must not engage in insider dealing by using for their own profit or for the profit of a third party, any financial information they receive in advance of its general publication. In considering whether information is insider information journalists should have regard to whether it is Page | 15
information which is precise and which an investor would be likely to base an investment decision. RTÉ journalists must not engage in market manipulation. In particular, journalists must not give false or misleading signals as to the supply of, demand for or price of financial instruments. Any journalists engaged in financial journalism or any form of reporting on financial markets must have regard to the legal definitions of insider dealing or market manipulation which can be obtained from Legal Affairs. Insider dealing and market manipulation are criminal offences and can potentially attract a fine not exceeding €10,000,000 and a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Investment Recommendations Mandatory Obligation 6 Financial journalists must not promote, or give the impression of promoting, any business or financial service in our output. The law imposes particular rules to the production and distribution of investment recommendations. In this context, a recommendation has a precise statutory meaning, that is “research or other information recommending or suggesting an investment strategy, explicitly or implicitly, concerning one or several financial instruments or the issuers of financial instruments including any opinion as to the present or future value or price of such instruments, intended for distribution channels or for the public”. Any such recommendations must be clear and not misleading and the source should be disclosed. If an RTÉ journalist is to make a recommendation she/he must disclose all of the circumstances that may reasonably be expected to impair the objectivity of the recommendation. This includes disclosure of any interest in the financial instruments which are the subject of the recommendation held by that journalist or a member of their close family. 9.3 Wearing of religious or Political Badges or Symbols RTÉ does not permit presenters to wear religious or political badges or symbols on screen which could be perceived to undermine impartiality. 9.4 Our Standards on editorial independence and integrity Maintain the independence and integrity of RTÉ Exercise RTÉ editorial control over the content RTÉ broadcasts or publishes. Ensure that editorial decisions are not improperly influenced by political, sectional, commercial or personal interests External activities of individuals undertaking work for RTÉ must not undermine the independence and integrity of editorial content. Page | 16
Page 1 and 2: JOURNALISM GUIDELINES (Interim edit
Page 3 and 4: Section 1. Introduction and Context
Page 5 and 6: Section 3. The Broadcasting Act 200
Page 7 and 8: 4.8 Accountability We hold ourselve
Page 9 and 10: Section 6. RTÉ Editorial Standards
Page 11 and 12: especially if the information from
Page 13 and 14: Section 8. Impartiality 8.1 RTÉ’
Page 15: We should not automatically assume
Page 19 and 20: Section 10. Serving the Public Inte
Page 21 and 22: 10.4 Investigations and public inte
Page 23 and 24: Section 11. Reporting of Sieges, Ki
Page 25 and 26: The refusal of a person or organisa
Page 27 and 28: Section 13. Privacy 13.1 Broadcasti
Page 29 and 30: Mandatory Obligation 17 There must
Page 31 and 32: 14.3 Doorstepping without Prior App
Page 33 and 34: Mandatory Obligation 21 When we com
Page 35 and 36: Mandatory Obligation 24 Apologies:
Page 37 and 38: Mandatory Obligation 27 Any proposa
Page 39 and 40: Appendix 2. Guidance on reporting f

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