IMPHAL, June 17: The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union has notified in an official statement its code of conduct (local adjustment). The abstract copy of the code of conduct released by AMJWU said that no claim made by unidentified sources / person(s) over telephone will be entertained. In case of issues of identification, the editor will decide, it said.
It continued that no press conference called by any individual or organizations without an official invitation will be accepted and all press releases of any organization have to be duly signed with the organizational seal on the letterhead. All the press releases of any organization(s) must be issued before 8 pm for morning dailies/ 3 pm for Eveningers/ 4.00 pm for the cable news channels.
In case of conflict/controversies between two or more parties, views of concerned parties will be given equal coverage and if the arguments and counter arguments raised become harmful to the state and could claim human lives, the AMWJU reserves the right to censor, it informed.
In the event of an organization or individual desiring to withdraw any press release before being printed, the same organization or individual who signed the press release must approach the Editor concerned, it said and added that if any individual / organizations have any grievances (except petty or small matters which can be resolved by the editor) against any newspaper, the concerned should first approach the AMWJU to address the problem.
It pointed out that all newspaper / media persons will follow the norms of journalism conduct as laid down by the Press Council Of India (PCl) and Editors are advised to refrain from sensationalizing any news report or indulging in sensationalism.
Adding that editors will bear the responsibility for mistake or omission and the commission appearing in their newspapers and all editors have the right to censor / delete partly or as a whole any news report or press-release or interview or press conference which could create communal tension or group clashes, it said that in case of violation of the Code of Conduct laid down by theAMWJU by any reporter / newspaper, AMWJU will initiate punitive action against the reporter / newspaper.
It is the prerogative of an editor to publish or not to publish a news report or a press-release and a report of a newspaper should not be contradicted by another newspaper in the form of a rejoinder or an advertisement or a news report, it said before adding that even if necessity arises, the vision of the newspaper concerned be taken by the other newspaper before any such publication.
It informed that press release of any organization should be made available to all offices of the press / newspaper / media organization by the organization on its own and no press / newspaper / media organization should be given the responsibility to distribute the press release (s).
The Editor will not entertain any Diktat from any quarter to publish or not to publish a news report or press release, it said.