Journalistic Code of Ethics
Freedom of opinion, expression, and the press are human rights protected by Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations. Press freedom is a means for the public to obtain information and to communicate, in order to meet essential needs and improve the quality of human life. In exercising press freedom, Indonesian journalists also acknowledge national interests, social responsibilities, cultural diversity, and religious norms.
In carrying out its function, rights, duties, and roles, the press respects the human rights of every individual. Therefore, the press is required to act professionally and be open to public scrutiny.
To guarantee press freedom and fulfill the public’s right to accurate information, Indonesian journalists need a moral foundation and professional ethics as operational guidelines to maintain public trust and uphold integrity and professionalism. Based on that, Indonesian journalists establish and adhere to the following Journalistic Code of Ethics:
Article 1
Indonesian journalists act independently, produce accurate, balanced news, and do not have malicious intent.
Explanation:
a. Independent means reporting events or facts according to one’s conscience without interference, coercion, or intervention from any party, including media owners.
b. Accurate means credible and true to the objective conditions at the time of the event.
c. Balanced means giving equal opportunity to all sides.
d. No malicious intent means there is no deliberate and sole intention to harm another party.
Article 2
Indonesian journalists use professional methods in carrying out journalistic duties.
Explanation:
Professional methods include:
a. Presenting identification to sources;
b. Respecting the right to privacy;
c. Not offering or accepting bribes;
d. Producing factual news with clear sources;
e. Clearly labeling altered or edited photos, images, sounds with their sources, and presenting them in a balanced way;
f. Respecting the traumatic experiences of sources when presenting images or audio;
g. Not committing plagiarism, including claiming other journalists’ work as one’s own;
h. Using special methods may be considered in investigative reporting for public interest.
Article 3
Indonesian journalists verify information, report in a balanced manner, do not mix facts with judgmental opinions, and uphold the presumption of innocence.
Explanation:
a. Verify means to check and recheck the truth of information.
b. Balanced means providing proportional coverage to each party.
c. Judgmental opinion refers to a journalist’s personal opinion, which differs from interpretive opinion, where the journalist interprets facts.
d. Presumption of innocence is the principle of not passing judgment on a person.
Article 4
Indonesian journalists do not produce false news, slander, cruelty, or pornography.
Explanation:
a. False means knowingly reporting untrue information.
b. Slander refers to baseless accusations made deliberately with bad intent.
c. Cruelty refers to reporting in a merciless, inhumane manner.
d. Pornography means depicting behavior erotically in photos, images, audio, graphics, or writing solely to arouse lust.
e. Archived footage or audio must include the time it was recorded.
Article 5
Indonesian journalists do not reveal or publish the identity of victims of sexual crimes or of minors who are perpetrators of crimes.
Explanation:
a. Identity includes all data or information that makes it possible to trace an individual.
b. Child refers to a person under the age of 16 who is unmarried.
Article 6
Indonesian journalists do not misuse their profession and do not accept bribes.
Explanation:
a. Misuse of profession includes gaining personal benefits from information obtained in the course of duty before it becomes public knowledge.
b. Bribe refers to gifts in the form of money, goods, or facilities that influence journalistic independence.
Article 7
Indonesian journalists have the right to withhold the identity of sources who do not wish to be identified or located, and respect embargoes, background information, and off-the-record terms as agreed upon.
Explanation:
a. Right to withhold refers to the right not to reveal the identity and whereabouts of a source for the source’s safety.
b. Embargo means delaying the publication of a story at the source’s request.
c. Background information is information provided by a source that may be published without identifying the source.
d. Off the record is information that cannot be published at all.
Article 8
Indonesian journalists do not write or broadcast news based on prejudice or discrimination against anyone on the basis of ethnicity, race, skin color, religion, gender, or language, and do not demean the dignity of the weak, poor, sick, or mentally or physically disabled.
Explanation:
a. Prejudice is a negative assumption about something before knowing the facts.
b. Discrimination is differential treatment.
Article 9
Indonesian journalists respect the privacy of sources, unless it is in the public interest.
Explanation:
a. Respecting privacy means being cautious and restrained.
b. Privacy refers to all aspects of a person’s and their family’s life not related to public interest.
Article 10
Indonesian journalists must promptly retract, correct, and apologize for any inaccurate or false news.
Explanation:
a. Promptly means taking immediate action regardless of whether a complaint is received.
b. Apology is required when the error relates to core facts.
Article 11
Indonesian journalists provide the right of reply and correction in a proportional manner.
Explanation:
a. Right of reply allows individuals or groups to respond to factual reports that damage their reputation.
b. Right of correction allows anyone to request correction of false information, whether about themselves or others.
c. Proportional means equivalent to the section of the article that needs correction.
Final judgments on violations of the Journalistic Code of Ethics are made by the Press Council. Sanctions for violations are imposed by journalist organizations and/or media companies.
Jakarta, Tuesday, March 14, 2006
(The Journalistic Code of Ethics was ratified by the Press Council through Regulation Number: 6/Peraturan-DP/V/2008 on the Ratification of Press Council Decree Number 03/SK-DP/III/2006 regarding the Journalistic Code of Ethics as a Regulation of the Press Council.)