AMWJU amends code of conduct
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 22 2020: A sitting of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) has amended the Code of Conduct to ensure efficiency and smooth functioning of the journalists, mediahouses in the State, saida statement of AMWJU today.

The meeting, on January 21 which effected the new code on conduct, also appealed the Government and authorities concerned to view all media organisations same and shun inviting only one or few media organisations to State sponsored programmes leaving out other media organisations.

Code of Conduct
1) No claim made by unidentified sources/ person(s) over telephone will be entertained.

In case of identification, Editors will decide.

2) No press conference called by any individual or organizations without official invitation will be accepted except on special cases.

3) All press release of any organization have to be duly signed with the organizational seal on the letterhead.

4) All press releases of any organization(s) must be issued before 7 pm for morning dailies, 1 pm for Eveningers & 3 pm for cable news channels.

5) In case of any conflict/controversies between two or more parties, views of parties concern will be given equal treatment.

Editors reserve the right to suspend media coverage either press release or press meet of both parties in public interest.

6) If the arguments and counter arguments raised become harmful to the State and could claim human lives, the AMWJU reserves the right to censor.

7) 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.

8) 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 or Editors Guild Manipur to address the problem.

9) Editors are advised to refrain from sensationalizing any news report or indulging in sensationalism.

10) Editors will bear the responsibility for mistake or omission and the commission appearing in their newspapers.

11) 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 tension or group clashes.

12) In case of violation of Code of conduct jointly laid down by the AMWJU and EGM by any members of the organizations or by the media houses they belong to, appropriate and proportionate action will by token up by AMWJU and EGM.

13) It is the prerogative of an Editor to publish or not to publish a news report or a press-release.

14) Media houses should avoid publishing rejoinder either in form of news, letter to Editor or advertisement to news reports appearing in other media outlet unless the same has been rejected by the said media outlet.

Right to rebuttal must be protected without getting media houses into conflict.

15) Press release of any organization should be made available to all the offices of the press/newspaper/media organization by the organization on its own.

No press/newspaper/media organization should be given the responsibility to distribute the press-release(s) .

16) Editors will not entertain any diktat from any quarter to publish or not to publish a news report or press-release.

17) All newspaper/mediapersons will follow the norms of journalistic conduct as laid down by the Press Council of India (PCI) from time to time.

Accordingly no media house will publish any threats, intimidation, defamatory allegations etc that might attract legal actions from aggrieved individuals or authorities.

18) Any members of AMWJU & EGM who so uses any social media platform in his or her personal capacity, shall do so at his or her own risk and if such posting attract any unwanted reaction, AMWJU & EGM are not liable.

However AMWJU & EGM will stand behind every member if they are victimized for any legitimate journalistic activities.

19) Members of AMWJU and EGM shall desist from posting on any social media group (like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, twitter etc) any unedited press releases addressed to Editors of different media houses.

Admins of the said groups and members posting the same shall be held responsible.

20) All newspapers/mediapersons will follow the norms of journalistic conduct as laid down by the Press Council of India (PCI) .

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