Tel:+25262-320000+2521-253733+2521658289.Website:www.asoj.org asoj@hotmail.com Email:asoj@asoj.org Banadir (Mogadishu).
_________________________________________________________________ Constitution: Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ):
Name of the Organization : Associated Somali Journalists Establishment : - 01.September.2004 Headquarter: Mogadishu Advocacy : Media rights and developments MISSION STATEMENT: Members of the Associated Somali Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of the Journalist's credibility. Members of this Association share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Association's principles and standards of practice. PUBLIC TRUST: Associated Somali Journalists should recognize that their first obligation is to the public. Associated Somali Journalists should:
- Understand that any commitment other than service to the public undermines trust and credibility.
- Recognize that service in the public interest creates an obligation to reflect the diversity of the community and guard against oversimplification of issues or events.
- Provide a full range of information to enable the public to make enlightened decisions.
- Fight to ensure that the public's business is conducted in public.
TRUTH: Associated Somali Journalists should pursue truth aggressively and present the news accurately, in context, and as completely as possible. Associated Somali Journalists should:
- Continuously seek the truth.
- Resist distortions that obscure the importance of events.
- Clearly disclose the origin of information and label all material provided by outsiders.
Associated Somali Journalists should not:
- Report anything known to be false.
- Manipulate images or sounds in any way that is misleading.
- Plagiarize.
- Present images or sounds that are reenacted without informing the public.
FAIRNESS: Associated Somali Journalists should present the news fairly and impartially, placing primary value on significance and relevance. Associated Somali Journalists Should:
- Treat all subjects of news coverage with respect and dignity, showing particular compassion to victims of crime or tragedy.
- Exercise special care when children are involved in a story and give children greater privacy protection than adults.
- Seek to understand the diversity of their community and inform the public without bias or stereotype.
- Present a diversity of expressions, opinions, and ideas in context.
- Present analytical reporting based on professional perspective, not personal bias.
- Respect the right to a fair trial.
INTEGRITY: Associated Somali Journalists should present the news with integrity and decency, avoiding real or perceived conflicts of interest, and respect the dignity and intelligence of the audience as well as the subjects of news. Associated Somali Journalists should:
- Identify sources whenever possible. Confidential sources should be used only when it is clearly in the public interest to gather or convey important information or when a person providing information might be harmed. Journalists should keep all commitments to protect a confidential source.
- Clearly label opinion and commentary.
- Guard against extended coverage of events or an individual that fails to significantly advance a story, place the event in context, or add to the public knowledge.
- Refrain from contacting participants in violent situations while the situation is in progress.
- Use technological tools with skill and thoughtfulness, avoiding techniques that skew facts, distort reality, or sensationalize events.
- Disseminate the private transmissions of other news organizations only with permission.
Associated Somali Journalists should not:
- Pay news sources that have a vested interest in a story.
- Accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.
- Engage in activities that may compromise their integrity or independence.
INDEPENDENT: Associated Somali Journalists should defend the independence of all journalists from those seeking influence or control over news content. Associated Somali Journalists should:
- Gather and report news without fear or favor, and vigorously resist undue influence from any outside forces, including advertisers, sources, story subjects, powerful individuals, and special interest groups.
- Resist those who would seek to buy or politically influence news content or who would seek to intimidate those who gather and disseminate the news.
- Determine news content solely through editorial judgment and not as the result of outside influence.
- Resist any self-interest or peer pressure that might erode journalistic duty and service to the public.
- Recognize that sponsorship of the news will not be used in any way to determine, restrict, or manipulate content.
- Refuse to allow the interests of ownership or management to influence news judgment and content inappropriately.
- Defend the rights of the free press for all journalists, recognizing that any professional or government licensing of journalists is a violation of that freedom.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Associated Somali Journalists should recognize that they are accountable for their actions to the public, the profession, and themselves. Associated Somali Journalists should:
- Actively encourage adherence to these standards by all journalists and their employers.
- Respond to public concerns. Investigate complaints and correct errors promptly and with as much prominence as the original report.
- Explain journalistic processes to the public, especially when practices spark questions or controversy.
- Recognize that professional electronic journalists are duty-bound to conduct themselves ethically.
- Refrain from ordering or encouraging courses of action that would force employees to commit an unethical act.
- Carefully listen to employees who raise ethical objections and create environments in which such objections and discussions are encouraged.
ASOJ Chair Man : Dahir Abdulle Alasow More info Plz Visit www.asoj.org
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