data-protection-and-journalism-a-guide-for-the-media-draft

Data protection and journalism
About this guide
standards or media regulation. It does however refer to existing codes
where directly relevant, to show how everything fits together.
Who the guide is for
The guide is intended for media organisations involved in journalism –
including the press, the broadcast media, and online news outlets.
Individual journalists might also find parts of it useful, although legal
responsibility under the DPA will usually fall on the organisation they work
for. With this in mind, the guide is specifically addressed to those working
in the media.
We have produced separate guidance for members of the public on their
data protection rights in relation to journalism. This is available on the ‘for
the public’ pages of our website.
Status of the guide
This guide does not have any formal status or legal force. It cannot and
does not introduce any new rules or new layers of regulation. It is the
DPA itself that places legally enforceable obligations on the media. This
guide simply clarifies our view of the existing law as set out in the DPA.
It is intended to help those working in the media to fully understand their
obligations, and to promote good practice. Following this guide will help to
ensure compliance, but the guide itself is not mandatory. There are no
direct consequences simply for failing to follow guidance, unless this leads
to a breach of the DPA.
The guide sets out our interpretation of the law and our general
recommended approach; but decisions on individual stories and situations
will of course always need to take into account the particular
circumstances of the case.
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