STArTInG A LOCAL RADiO stAtiOn - Nai

Section 7: ethics and media lawcal code helps you and the station’s team of journalists to do the best job possible. A code of ethics alsorequires journalists to act independently when seeking the truth.In 2007 media professionals in Afghanistan gathered to create a code of ethics for journalists. The codewas drafted by a working group of academics and journalists inspired to provide ethical guidelines formedia professionals. Like other ethical guidelines for journalists around the world, the Afghan codeagrees to impartiality, accuracy and fairness as fundamental guidelines. This code is a set of principlesthat ensure responsible and moral behavior to strengthen the quality of your programming and thecredibility of your radio station.You may already have a code of ethics at your station. However, do your journalists and program producersknow its importance and content? Is it posted in a place where all staff will see it? Perhaps some ofyour program producers are volunteers from your community who are not trained in journalism. Theymay not know that a code of conduct exists at your station! It’s important to review this code during orientationsfor new staff and volunteers. Be sure that everyone knows where the code is kept so that theycan easily refer to it when they have questions or need a gentle reminder.If you don’t have a code of ethics, it’s crucial that you adopt one without delay. The code below is used widelyin Afghanistan.The Code of Ethics for Afghan journalists has been developed with the aim of guiding andencouraging journalists to comply with values of professional ethics, and various ethicalquestions they face in their work. Taking into account international standards of professionalism,this Code of Ethics raises the issues specific to Afghan culture and beliefs, and guidesjournalists in how to deal with individuals and events.1. Journalist shall avoid discrimination on grounds of race, religion, gender, tribe, languageand culture in his/her professional activities.2. Journalist shall employ accuracy in his/her professional activities and dissemination of facts,and avoid distortion, defamation, baseless accusation, menace, gossip and willful withholdingof facts.3. Journalist shall respect people’s right to information for obtaining an accurate picture of therealities, and considers it as part of his/her social responsibility.4. Journalist shall consider respect to human dignity, cultural diversity and accepted globalvalues as part of his/her professional ethics and shall have good will towards the public.5. Journalist has a professional responsibility to participate through his professional work inelimination of war, hatred, violence, distrust, poverty, ignorance and other social diseases.6. Journalist shall consider national interests in accordance with current laws of the country inhis/her professional activities.7. Journalist shall observe balance, and instill fairness and impartiality in his/her professionalactivities.STARTING A LOCAL RADIO STATION: A MANUAL FOR AFGHANISTAN75