Protect your sources’ identity. Find the most appropriate sources. Do not accept bribes, gifts, or facilities from sources. Pay attention to accuracy of data and information. Give sources the opportunity for clarification. Balanced reporting. Make clear t

67 Reading materials Ethics in citizen journalism by M. Isryadul In Indonesia, Law no. 40 1999 on the Press states in Article 4 that press freedom is a basic human right of citizens. It explains that this means that the press have the right to search for, obtain, and spread information and ideas. Article 6 also states that the role of the press is to oversee, critique, correct, and provide corrections to issues relevant to public interest. Anyone who obstructs press freedom in Indonesia can be jailed for up to two years or fined up to Rp. 500,000,000 approximately US4,000. Why do journalists need ethics? Ethics must become the guiding principles for all journalistic practitioners, including citizen journalists. Journalistic ethics are the ‘rules of the game’ for journalists, who in fact created the code of ethics themselves to ensure that all journalists and media elements carry out their job as they should. Press freedom does not mean that journalists can act arbitrarily – it means that journalists should be free to implement the journalistic process to ensure coverage is accurate and fact-based. Why should journalists pay attention to these issues? Journalists’ work affects and shapes public opinion. This effect can be good or bad, depending on the information shared and its accuracy. Ethics are needed to ensure that all journalists report truthfully. Ethics assist journalists to do so from the research stage, to the interview stage, to the writing stage, and finally to the publication stage. Below are a number of ethics that journalists must take into account:

1. Acknowledge your identity as a journalist. Do not pretend otherwise.

Sources must be given the opportunity to know that they are talking to a journalist. People’s reactions will almost certainly be different when they are aware they are talking to a journalist.

2. Protect your sources’ identity.

It is possible that some sources will not want to be identified. They may be scared or shy, or they may need to do so for safety reasons. Journalists must protect their identity if requested, but do try to get their permission to use their name first.

3. Find the most appropriate sources.

68 Choose sources who are truly relevant and appropriate for your topic. If you choose incorrectly, the information you receive may be inaccurate or, worse, false.

4. Do not accept bribes, gifts, or facilities from sources.

If journalists receive something from a source, it can have an impact on the neutrality of their reporting.

5. Pay attention to accuracy of data and information.

Do not automatically believe all information you receive. Every piece of data and information must be checked for factuality. This includes names, titles, and numbers.

6. Give sources the opportunity for clarification.

If someone is accused of doing something, they must be given the opportunity to defend themselves provide clarification.

7. Balanced reporting.

If there is conflicting information, you should report both sides of the story.

8. Make clear the difference between facts and personal opinions.

Facts are often mixed with personal opinions, but it is your job as a journalist to separate them. Make the difference between them clear and obvious.

9. Use the correct language and terminology.

Do not confuse or trick your readers through using language or terms that misdirect them. For example, by writing a headline that is not in line with the story. Do not put your own opinions into stories by writing things such as ‘strongly suspected’; you must have a source that strongly suspects the claim.

10. Do not hide the facts.