The Organisation of
Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) represents a diversity of news providers and
sources from across a wide region of the globe.
OANA acknowledges that this
diversity also brings a range of political, cultural and social outlooks that
inform the news content generated by these agencies.
OANA encourages this
diversity in order to provide a balance of news and information to the rest of
the world.
OANA recognises the cultural
norms and sensitivities of member countries, and how those unique issues may
affect journalism practices at a local level.
OANA also upholds the
principles that guide journalism to allow for independent and unbiased news
coverage.
This document outlines these
principles, as well as providing the ethics and standards to which all member
agencies should adhere.
ETHICS AND STANDARDS
Accuracy
OANA values its reputation
as a reliable source of news and information.
All information comment and
opinion must be authoritatively sourced and verified.
Photographic images must not
be altered in a way that misrepresents the subject matter.
Impartiality
OANA does not promote
particular views or commercial interests, either through undue emphasis or by
suppressing relevant material
OANA always seeks to include
a fair balance of all views.
Any comment or conjecture by
writers must be identified as such.
Misrepresentation
OANA does not sanction
misrepresentation, deceit or subterfuge to obtain information.
OANA members should ensure that
their journalists clearly identify themselves when interviewing and gathering
information.
OANA members should ensure
that their journalists do not obtain information clandestinely by using
listening devices or by intercepting telephone conversations.
Discrimination
OANA does not sanction
unnecessary emphasis on personal characteristics, including gender,
religion, minority groups, sexual orientation, race, colour or physical or
mental disability.
Privacy
OANA members should ensure
their journalists respect privacy unless it interferes with the publication of
matters of public policy or of significant public interest.
Approaches to people suffering trauma or grief should be undertaken with
care and sensitivity.
Social media
OANA recognises that social media are useful news gathering tools and,
if used effectively, can promote the reach and activities of OANA.
However, the use of social networking sites should be carefully governed
to ensure adherence to the tenets of accuracy, verification and fairness.
OANA
EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
OANA has established
broadcasting principles regarding coverage of terrorist attacks, acts of
violence and natural disasters.
OANA:
Acts responsibly in covering
terrorism, acts of violence and natural disasters bearing in mind the public
interest in full and accurate reporting, universal human rights, national
security and public order.
Refuses to publish stories
or visual material that will be deemed discriminatory on the basis of class,
race, language, religion, gender, and region that will generate feelings of
hostility among people and further incite them to violence and terror.
Abstains from all sorts of
reporting that vilifies groups of people, encourages extremism, or generates
feelings of hatred, fear, chaos, hostility and panic.
Exercises care and judgment
regarding quality and style of its stories ensuring they do not encourage
violence, spread fear, traumatise, damage the principles of equality and
justice, degrade human dignity and foster discrimination.
Covers stories of terrorism
and acts of violence without exaggeration or bias, and are founded on reliable
information that is as far as is possible verified by authorised sources; and
abides by the broadcast bans imposed by legal authorities.
Avoids reporting that will
directly or indirectly serve terrorist organizations; and accordingly does not
use their rhetoric, language, jargon, images and symbols that will help their
propaganda.
Avoids reporting the names
of those who lost their lives in accidents, disasters or acts of terror before
their next of kin are informed.
Accepts the sanctity of
human life and avoids running pictures or video footage that will hurt the
dignity of victims and cause further suffering to their families.
Will respect - in covering
wars, conflicts, terrorism and disasters - the privacy and dignity of the dead,
apart from exceptional circumstances.
Avoids publishing graphic
pictures and video of executions, killing of people.
Does not transmit close-up
shots of dead or wounded and mutilated bodies, limbs degrading human dignity
and causing psychological distress in public.
Does
not condone the practice of children under the age of 16 being unduly prompted
in interviews or given inducements to co-operate.
Will not transmit
sensational and shocking news and images captured by its staff in any natural
disaster, violence or act of terror that would be damaging to public order and
solidarity. At all times it will present pictures and sound which are true and accurate. Any
manipulation likely to mislead must be disclosed.
Will
only use content from social networking sites when the material is publicly
available and the bona fides of the source has been established and checked.
NOTE:
Aside
from the reporting and broadcasting principles, OANA members will at all times
exercise care for its reporters and photographers assigned to cover natural
disasters and major traumatic events and where appropriate will provide
counselling support for staff affected by what they’ve witness in the line of
duty. 
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