No meddling, please... Code should be voluntary

The underlying objective of journalists having a code of professional ethics is to ensure that journalists abide by certain guidelines in their day-to-day work so that they are socially responsible and accountable.

Equally important is that this professional code should enable them to voluntarily regulate themselves, and not be imposed by external bodies or the State, especially in an environment where democratic space is restricted.

Thus, it is cause for concern the recent statement made by Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir that suggests an inclination on the part of the government to meddle in the affairs of the media industry. In a society where press freedom is already curtailed, it is rather chilling to note that Kadir’s ministry intends to have “discussions… from time to time with editors-in-chief of the print and electronic media to gather information on latest developments in the media industry.” Such a close liaison can be dangerous indeed.

Kadir’s concern with the way certain media organisations have of late covered court cases of violence against women and children may well be shared by many in the civil society: certain news reports did border on sensationalism, especially those that were laced with sex and gore. But this shouldn’t provide justification for further state intervention in the running of the media industry.

In a situation like this, the media ought to voluntarily regulate themselves and punish accordingly their reporters and editors who flout the code of ethics.

Sensationalist reporting has its underlying causes, one of which is profit-maximisation that becomes an economic philosophy of a media organisation. Secondly, as implied above, in an environment that is highly regulated, sensationalist journalism conveniently takes over the rightful place of investigative journalism, which ought to probe issues that are relevant and crucial to the ordinary people.