Monitoring of the media reporting on the party – political and inter-ethnic issues
during the pre-electoral period
- Project supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the OSCE
Mission in Skopje
SECOND REPORT
From the Watchdog Mechanism of the Media Reporting at the UNESCO Chair on
Media, Dialogue and Mutual Understanding
(March 3 - 14)
What is the watchdog mechanism?
The overall objective of the Watchdog Mechanism is to provide rapid detection of all media
articles/broadcasts which can create an atmosphere of serious tensions in the political and inter-ethnic
relations, or which can promote speech that can cause violence, intolerance and discrimination,
negative stereotypes, as well as hidden or open calls for violent mobilization.
It is important to note that these examples are only part of the observed violations of the legislation
and professional standards in the selected period and that similar or milder types of violations appear
in other media outlets as well. Only the most characteristic and noticeable violations are listed and
analyzed here, which clearly illustrate the type of violation that can be found in many other texts.
Hence, the research team and the expert panel do not intend to impose ethical sanctions to the
newsrooms of the indicated media outlets by emphasizing these examples. Instead, the objective is to
encourage them to think about the negative role that the media can have in the disintegration of the
society, either through careless or deliberate reporting that encourages stereotypes, prejudices,
divisions and intolerance.
The aim of the School with this Project is to help the professional journalistic community in trying to
preserve ethical and professional principles and values and the reputation and dignity of the
profession.
How does the Mechanism function?
The Mechanism is consisted of a group of selected and trained analysts who monitor the media, a
research team of the School who makes the selection and conducts a qualitative analysis of the texts,
and a panel of experts that reviews and discusses the submitted materials and it analyzes and decides
on the content of the reaction that the Chair should release in the public.
The Watchdog mechanism operates under a clearly defined procedure that has four consecutive
stages:
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Selection and alerts: The analysts monitor the content in the media that have been identified and
allocate all texts related to the elections and the interethnic issues, according to a detailed set of
guidelines. Then, they inform the research team about possible violations, by stating the name of
the media, the date and title of the published text.
Analysis: The team selects and conducts a qualitative analysis of the journalistic articles and
items, and determines whether they contain violations of the legal framework and the professional
standards.
Expert panel: The expert panel, consisting of external professors and experts from several
universities and organizations partners of the UNESCO Chair, meets and discusses on the
qualitative analysis and the highlighted violations and decide on the final version of the analysis
and the contents of the reaction to be released.
Public reaction: The expert panel may decide to immediately react (if violations are significant) or
to act cumulatively (to violations in texts that are accumulated over a longer period).
Media included in the monitoring
The monitoring included only professional media that publish daily news and information. Their
selection is made according to the impact they can have on the audience, i.e. according to the data on
the number of viewers, readers and listeners.
Daily newspapers: Dnevnik, Vecer, Utrinski vesnik, Nova Makedonija, Fokus, Koha and Lajm
Radio stations: Macedonian Radio 1, Kanal 77, Macedonian Radio 2 (Albanian language)
TV stations: MTV 1, MTV 2 (Albanian), Sitel, Kanal5, Telma, Alfa, TV 24, Alsat M
Online: Plus Info, Kurir and Portalb
In the print and online media, analysts monitor all texts related to the elections in any section they are
located (Elections, Macedonia, Economy, etc.). In the electronic media, analysts monitor the prime
time news and they analyze the news items related to the internal political developments and the
election campaign.
Contents of the Second report
This report summarizes the assessment of the media coverage in the period from March 3 to 14. The
most common deviations observed from the professional standards in this period refer to three points:
(1) hate speech and inflammatory speech; (2) discrimination or stereotyping of an ethnic group; (3)
negative speech directed at individuals and marginalized groups.
General conclusions are given at the beginning of each point for the most noticeable and most
common deviations from the professional standards, and in the next part, media and examples of
texts/articles are listed in a chronological order where deviations were observed. An overview of the
violated international and national professional standards is provided at the end of the document.
The analysts sent alerts for 210 texts and news items in the observed period and the qualitative
analysis included 101 out of them.
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1. General conclusions from the monitoring
The analysis showed that in most cases when hate speech or inflammatory speech in the media is
identified it is related with transferred statements of politicians, columnists and other opinion-makers
in Macedonia. The strongest inflammatory messages in this period were transferred speeches of
politicians who participate in the party's election campaign. Regardless of that, the newsrooms cannot
distance from their own responsibility for the effects and consequences that this speech can have on
the interethnic relations.
The media have an obligation to severely condemn hate speech, especially when it could have serious
consequences for the inter-ethnic relations. Even in exceptional cases, when it comes to explicit and
extreme hate speech, the media outlets have a right and a duty to refuse to publish the speech.
Politicians should be condemned without exception at every attempt to spread hate speech and
inflammatory speech, expressed in or out of the election campaign, which they do in order to win
more votes or to be more attractive to the electorate. Statements that are full of hatred, intolerance,
stereotypes and divide citizens along ethnic, religious or other grounds, make an enormous damage to
the country's democratic processes.
When it comes to multi-ethnic and multi-religious country such as Macedonia, politicians need to be
aware of the effect that their statements cause among all citizens of Macedonia, and not only among
those that they directly address. Political leaders bear a huge responsibility for the fact that in this
period speeches are spread through the media that can have serious consequences for the interethnic
coexistence.
2. Explicit hate speech and inflammatory speech
During this period, several articles were published in some media where press releases, views and
attitudes of political parties, organizations or individuals were transmitted without any distance and
contextualization, which "introduce" themes for alleged "ethnic cleansing of Albanians" in Skopje",
for the “anti-Albanian Macedonian state policy" and even for the alleged "religious anti-Albanian
propaganda" being conducted by the Macedonian state.
The dominant inflammatory speech comes from the political parties, which in the struggle for political
rating, "play" with the national feelings of citizens.
Some media, when reporting on the violence that occurred after the protests in Skopje and
subsequently in several high schools or in buses, recklessly underlined the ethnic background of the
participants in the violence, either attackers or victims. It can further increase anxiety and impatience
among citizens.
Portalb, 03.03.2013: „Ilirikum Libertas: An ethnic cleansing occurs in Macedonia“
The online media text publishes a press release of the NGO Ilirikum Libertas which reacts with a call
to the international community to influence "the Macedonian part of the government" on the occasion
of the violence that took place after protests organized against the appointment of Talat Xhaferi. In the
press release the violence is verbally identified as "ethnic cleansing of Albanians" in Skopje, and
additionally instead of the country's constitutional name the reference "FYROM" is used. The
inflammatory effect of this press release is additionally enhanced with the visualization (an image of a
bleeding boy) and with the headline. The responsibility of the media is that it does not distance itself
from this press release, instead being a carrier of an ethnically corrosive message.
„The organization Ilirik Libertas sharply reacts to, as they say, the last campaign of ethnic
cleansing of Albanians from several districts of the FYROM capital, Skopje ... This is a politics
that is culminating several times in recent years with an aggressive campaign against young
Albanians, ethnic cleansing and segregation in certain areas, even to physical elimination of the
more emancipated patriotic elements of our community.
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Telma, 5.03.2013: „Incidents in Skopje with an inter-ethnic connotation“
The news item, which in part is re-broadcasted from Alsat M, informs of an attacked underage
schoolgirl from the school "Dimitar Vlahov". The injured student is partially quoted in which the
ethnic background of the alleged attackers is stated. It is disputable that the statement is framed in
ethnic terms, although the attackers were unidentified. Additionally, the news item reports about two
other similar incidents and in both cases it emphasizes the ethnic background of the attacked,
identifying them as Macedonians. In this way, it implicitly states the ethnicity of the attackers as well.
"They were skinny and tall guys with masks on their faces. They spoke in Macedonian
language. I no longer can “normally” go to school; I am under a lot of stress. I think other
students are scared as well. I appeal to all not to repeat such horrible things, Arlinda Bajrami
told Alsat M yesterday.
Yesterday evening two similar incidents occurred in Skopje. Dozen unidentified persons
attacked 24-year-old boy from Macedonian nationality at around 7:30 pm, near the Bit
Pazar. They punched him and caused visible injuries all over his body. Two hours later, three
unidentified persons attacked a 35-year-old citizen from Skopje, close to the Macedonian
National Theatre, also of Macedonian nationality.”
Similar violation was made by Telma on 6.03.2013. This a priori framing of the incidents in an ethnic
connotation does not allow the possibility that perhaps all these incidents are motivated by different
reasons, not ethnic ones. In this way, the medium demonstrates that there is a pre-designed horizon of
expectation of the events.
Kanal 5 TV, 05.03.2013: „Albanians care only for their people, and they are silent about the
Macedonians“
The television, in its prime time news programme, broadcasts an interview with a political analyst. In
the cue of the interview and the video graphic it is written: "Albanians care only for their people
and they are silent about the Macedonians." This sentence makes a contrast between the Albanians
and Macedonians, constructing them as monolithic ethnic categories. Additionally, it makes a
negative stereotyping of the Albanians as an ethnic group that is concerned only for "their people" and
is insensitive to the Other.
Koha, 6.03.2013: „Religious Anti-albanian propaganda“ (column)
The column, in which the last year's fivefold murder at Smilkovci is re-contextualized in a framework
in which the tragic event is staged by the state of Macedonia in order to blame "Albanians"
understood as a monolithic group, is an example of a strong and explicit inflammatory speech that can
trigger new ethnic tensions, especially in the context of the events associated with the current preelection campaign. Regardless of the fact that the column is a view expressed by an external analyst,
the medium undoubtedly bears a responsibility when it transmits such a strong inflammatory speech:
„Thirteen-year old Albanian child from Skopje does not accept to kiss the cross and it is beaten
and face cut with a knife by Macedonian hooligans, and this is an act whose consequences are
beyond a single incident ..... it is a reflection of the real anti-Albanian politics through which
the Macedonian state tries to portray the Albanians as Islamic extremists. It is the best tactic to
avoid international reactions even in the cases when young Albanians, bystanders, are brutally
beaten, yet in the presence of police, who seems to enjoy the event.
"Last year, it was well considered how to benefit from the murder of the five young Macedonians,
killed by their country Macedonia, which tried to alert the world in a perfect way that Albanian
terrorists kill young Macedonians to make a severe harm to the Albanians."
Lajm, 07.03.2013: „The tensions in Macedonia are caused by Serbia and ‘remnants of the past“
This text covers attitudes of an analyst from Kosovo (Adem Demaci) who gives an interpretation of
the violence that occurred after the protests on the occasion of the appointment of Talat Xhaferi, and
of several other subsequent events for which the media reports were contradictory and insufficiently
checked. The journalist did not distance himself from the views of the analyst that places these events
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in the context of a broader radical scenario for Macedonian-Serbian conspiracy against Albanians. By
establishing this symbolic link between the "Serbs" and "Macedonians" who are framed as carriers of
evil and who are against the Albanians" portrayed as victims, the attitudes of the quoted analyst are
not challenged at all and this produces an inflammatory speech.
„The Macedonian police remnants, together with their counterparts Serbs, masked, with their
barbaric actions, want to scare the Albanians by beating children, face cutting the students and
with other actions aimed at encouraging Albanians to open wounds and new fronts.
According to him, the Albanians in Macedonia should be careful not to become a prey of these
scenarios. 'They should not behave like the Macedonian criminals and the Serbian agents with
whom they interact ..."
Portalb, 08.03.2013: „DPA in Celopek: Let’s stop the ethnic cleansing of Albanians with your voice“
This text covers a speech by Menduh Taci at a rally in Celopek. He called the citizens from this part
to massively vote for his party in order to “stop the ethnic cleansing in the City of Skopoje”. The
medium has to challenge the statements of politicians who spread an inflammatory speech with their
own counter-argument.
„The current Government aims to ethnically clean the City of Skopje. I call on Albanians to
vote to stop the ethnic cleansing of the Albanian cities. If such politics continues, the same
situation will occur in Tetovo, equally as in Skopje," DPA leader Taci said.
Koha, 08.03 .2013: „Have some more mercy for the Albanians in Skopje“
This text is a report which makes an overview of the actions of Albanian political party
representatives in the pre-election campaign. Pieces from the candidate’s speeches are extracted in
most of the text, in which they talk about community issues and topics that affect citizens. However,
part of the text quotes a political statement by a DPA list holder (Idriz Orana), which implies the
existence of a “Macedonian national” politics that strategically places Albanians in “ghettoized”
neighborhoods.
„The Macedonian national strategy, supported and approved by DUI in the Government
structures, is to ultimately integrate the country in the EU with ghettoized Albanian
neighborhoods. The Albanian settlements in Skopje are same as the ghettos in the 30’s and as the
reservations of the 19th century… thus Europe will get the impression that Albanians are fans of
the primitive and miserable lifestyle. Look at the other part, where Macedonians live, it has an
exactly a Western look”, Orana said.
MTV 2, 08.03.2013:
A news item is broadcasted in the Albanian language current news programme at 6:30 pm, on the
occasion of March 8th, which talks about the present position of the Albanian woman in Macedonia,
where quotes from several women are presented. It turns out that from the spectrum of quoted
statements the Albanian woman can be everything “from a teacher to a soldier”, as one woman
identifies herself as a former member of the KLA forces. The simple transfer of this statement,
without its contextualization in today’s social context, can provoke anxiety and intolerance among
citizens:
„I fired a whole round of bullets at the enemy, who harassed and tortured my people in the last
few years. The best gift I got was a gun by the co-fighters at the Kosara Mountain, Skodrane
says, a woman, former soldier of KLA, at the celebration of the International Women’s Day in the
Theater of the Albanian drama......Skodrane’s speech was euphorically welcomed by the
attendees.“
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Sitel, 11.03.2013: „Ljubanci is waiting for the hero“
The character of Johan Tarculovski is glorified, which in several parts of the news item, including the
cue and the video graphics is claimed to be a "hero" and a "victim". The word "victim" is mentioned
in the headlines, the cue of the news item, and several times in the news item, resounding as a main
thread in which the object of observation is framed. The choice of statements by several citizens
tendentiously contextualizes Tarculovski as one of the heroes of the Ilinden epic, especially with the
statement that says that "Tarculovski is Goce Delcev". The rest of the story is absent, or the view of
those who do not perceive Tarculovski in this light. A feature of the inclusive journalism in societies
such as the Macedonian is to present the reality comprehensively, especially when the events have an
inter-ethnic connotation.
Vecer, 12.03.2013 – „Ljubanci is waiting for its komita“1
A similar effect is caused in Vecer’s article from this date - the same information is reported in the
spirit of Tarculovski’s glorification. The word "hero" in the headline is replaced by the term "komita",
which has a very positive connotation for the Macedonian ethnic community. In fact, the expression
komita is used to name remarkable persons from the national history who fought for the Macedonian
issue, for the liberation of the Macedonians and for the constitution of their own state.
„Ljubanci is a village in which everyone believes in the innocence of Tarculovski. His photographs are
in the neighborhood stores. He is an icon for the people of this village. - After Goce Delcev, he is the
greatest hero of Macedonia, people from Ljubanci would say, if you ask them whether they perceive
him as a hero. "
2. Discrimination or stereotyping of an ethnic group
A major problem in the reporting of numerous media is the fact that texts are completely used from
other media or social networks as a source of information, which consist unconfirmed information on
sensitive inter-ethnic issues. The practice of so-called “copy-paste” journalism is particularly
dangerous at a time when unchecked information make a negative stereotyping of ethnic groups and
this may further deepen the inter-ethnic tensions after the violence associated with the protests, in the
high schools and in several buses.
In addition, with the "simple" transfer of politicians’ speeches in the election campaign, in which they
mutually accuse as "traitors" to their ethnic group, the media outlets enter the trap of uncritical and
reckless spreading of the negative stereotyping on ethnic grounds.
Dnevnik, 04.03.2013: „Abusive graffiti in Struga“
The newspaper uncritically covers a press release of the news agency in Albanian language (INA)
which says that graffiti from unknown persons were drawn at the building of the Centre for Social
Work in Struga, which implies that the motives for the graffiti is the violence that followed after the
protests in Skopje. It is unclear how the motives of people who are "unknown" are identified.
"Irritated and annoyed by the recent events in which young Albanians were brutally beaten,
unknown persons wrote graffiti at the building of the Center for Social Work in Struga, where
there was a series of remarks and disagreements these days due to the non-use of the
Albanian language by the staff, thus breaking the Law for the official use of the Albanian
language. They wrote the following content: 'Down with fascism', "'The Albanians are those
who are beaten and these whores do not care about that, the Agency INA reported."
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A “komita” is a 19th and 20th century Macedonian rebel fighter against the Ottoman Empire.
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Plusinfo, 04.03.2013: „Grafitti in Albanian all over Struga“
Plusinfo took the news from Dnevnik in which the press release from INA is transferred, which also
uncritically covers unconfirmed information that implies that "yet unknown persons" were "annoyed
and irritated" by the events in Skopje. In addition, the text headline stereotypically associates the
language of the ethnic group with the unscrupulous behavior of those who wrote graffiti around the
city.
„Struga woke up this morning with graffiti written in Albanian, Dnevnik reports. The Agency
INA reported that "irritated and annoyed by the recent events in which, as noted, young
Albanians were brutally beaten, unknown persons wrote graffiti at the building of the Center
for Social Work in Struga, where there was a series of remarks and disagreements these days
due to the non-use of the Albanian language by the staff, thus breaking the Law for the official
use of the Albanian language. They wrote the following content: 'Down with fascism', "'The
Albanians are those who are beaten and the main whores do not care about that, the agency
INA reported."
Alfa TV, 05.03.2013: „DPA: Instead of protecting the Albanians, DUI named them as hooligans“
Although the harsh rhetoric in which political parties often exchange aggressive words is usual during
the pre-election period, still in some cases this rhetoric can cause serious consequences for the interethnic relations. DPA's political speech in this case demonizes the assumed political opponent, but at
the same time it creates a discourse of victimization of the Albanian community in which DUI is a
collaborator. This demonizes DUI as a treacherous organization of the Albanians and at the same time
the narrative for the Albanians solely as victims is re-affirmed. The speech of the representative of the
political party is not challenged at all.
„While the Albanians were beaten, tortured and left without any support these days, DUI and
Ali Ahmeti did not even try to protect them," DPA MP Bekim Fazliu accused today.
Fokus, 07.03.2013: „Religious weekend wars scheduled over Facebook“
In the Focus article the medium justifiably warns about what happens on social networks. However,
what is problematic here is the headline of the text, which qualifies the violence that occurred after the
protests on the occasion of the appointment of Talat Xhaferi as a Defence Minister with a religious
dimension. Thus, this is overemphasized or re-contextualized in a potential inter-religious conflict
from the inter-ethnic one, by using extremely inflammatory terms. The problem with this headline is
the sensational approach of the author who played with the resonance while setting the three words
which begin with the same letter “religious weekend - wars [...]” (verski vikend vojni), but caused the
effect of a threat that has a religious character. The choice of a style of writing is certainly right of the
author of the journalistic articles, but the journalist has to take into account the meaning that might
have inflammatory effects. The headline of the article is also published at the front page of the
newspaper, which gives even greater weight of this violation.
Dnevnik, 13.03.2013: „The Romas and Turks will decide – Macedonian or Albanian“
This article is published on the front page of Dnevnik, occupying almost the entire space, thus
indicating about the importance of the contents of the text. It has a sensational headline which abuses
the ethnic background of the voters in favor of the political battle. The headline ethnically “ranks” the
voters, thus the social and political space is constructed as a battle of ethno-collectivities and not as a
battle of ideas. At the same time, the headline reinforces the perception of ethnic division and
grouping in Kicevo, which itself can lead to further fueling of the inter-ethnic tensions. There is a
speech in the text which reinforces the ethnic division in the city:
„The Albanian political block harshly reacted to this (the joint coalition) with an
explanation that the Macedonians, although a minority in the new Kicevo
municipality, seriously struggle for the mayor’s position, and in this way they make a
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majorization of the Albanian population again ... After the merger of the four
municipalities towards Kichevo the ethnic picture is changed in favor of the
Albanians ... "
3. Negative speech towards individuals or marginalized groups
During this period, some media outlets uncritically covered the statement of the candidate for a mayor
Aleksandar Petreski in which he offends entire marginalized group. These media outlets did not
criticize and challenge the insulting and discriminatory speech by Petreski. Several online media
reported in this way as well, but they are not covered by this monitoring. We indicate only examples
of media outlets which are included in the monitoring and where this violation was identified.
Plusinfo, 05.03.2013: „Petreski: I am not a queer, he is free to fall in love with him if he wants to“
„They say I fell asleep at the meeting with Bandini, whose close people said they were in love with
him. I am not a queer, he is free to fall in love with him if he wants to. And they even said: I am so
ashamed for this. With God’s permission, both Ohrid and Macedonia will be saved,” Petreski said.
Vecer, 06.03.2013: „I am not a queer to have Bandini’son from Sutka2 to fall in love with me “
The newspaper is apparently trying to approach the statement of the candidate for a mayor of Ohrid
Aleksandar Petreski with sarcasm, but even with the introductory sentence it induces a strong
stereotype for the gays as "perverts".
..„ The citizens of Ohrid understood that they do not have a pervert mayor, he openly spoke in front of
few people who went to the square at the last night’s rally. Aleksandar Petreski spoke about his sexual
orientation in front of his fellow citizens insteadof promising projects."
The stereotyping and discrimination of a sexual minority and vulnerable groups is often a transferred
discourse of politicians. However, the media outlets are responsible to provide a critical distance from
such speeches and to condemn them. If the journalists decides to cover this speech, he has to make a
critical distance and to provide a particular context. The non-criticized transfer of the Petreski’s
statement in this case reinforces his message and creates a platform for such a speech.
Nova Makedonija, 14.03.2013: „Everyone is a quiet observer as the idea for a Greater Albania
enters the campaign“
The text makes a violation of the standards by publishing of a photograph showing a child whose face
is clearly visible. Thus, his identity is misused in ethno-political context. The medium has a special
responsibility when it comes to posting information or photographs of vulnerable groups (children,
youth under 18, people with disabilities, elderly people, people who have suffered an accident, etc.)..
2
Sutka is a settlement in Skopje mostly populated with Roma people
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5. Overview of the international and national professional standards
Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights
„Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinions and
freedom to receive and send information and ideas…The exercise of these freedoms…may be subject
to…restrictions or sanctions…in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety,
the prevention of disorder or crime…”
Recommendation (97)20 on „hate speech“
Hate speech is “..all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or justify racial hatred,
xenophobia, anti-Semitism or other forms of hatred based on intolerance, including intolerance
expressed by aggressive nationalism and ethnocentrism, discrimination and hostility toward
minorities, immigrants and people with immigrant backgrounds”.
Principle 1:
... public authorities and public institutions at national, regional and local level, as well as official
servants, have a special responsibility to refrain from statements, particularly for the media,
which could be understood as hate speech, or speech that is likely to produce the effect of
legitimizing, spreading or promoting racial hatred, xenophobia, anti-Semitism or other forms of
discrimination or hatred based on intolerance. Such statements should be prohibited and publicly
rejected whenever they appear.
Code of Journalists of Macedonia
General principles: „A basic task of journalists is to respect truth…journalists should be honest,
impartial and accurate. It is the right and obliagation of journalists is to seek to prevent censorship and
distortion of news… journalists shall defend human rights, dignity and freedom, will respect the
pluralism of ideas and attitudes ... "
Article 10 „The journalists shall not intentionally endanger the human rights and freedoms….shall not
speak with the language with the language of hatred and shall not encourage violence and
discrimination on any ground (national, religious, racial, sexual, social, linguistic, sexual orientation,
political).”
Article 14:„The coverage of political processes, particularly during elections, should be unbiased and
balanced. The journalist must set a professional distance from the political actors”.
Legislation of the Republic of Macedonia
Article 68 of the Law on Broadcasting, Article 8, 9 and 10 of the Rules of Conduct for broadcasters in
the period before the start of the election campaign and Article 9 of the Rules of equal media
presentation during the election campaign.
Article 69 of the Law on Broadcasting: „ Programmes are not allowed in the public broadcasters
aimed at stirring national, racial, gender or religious hatred and intolerance”. .“...
Code of Principles of Conduct of Journalists (International Federation of Journalists)
„Journalists should be aware of the danger of inciting discrimination through the media and should
make every effort to avoid discrimination through the media and should make every effort to avoid
discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion and
national and social origin”.
Impartial and accurate informing – stories that are comprehensive, without ignoring the important
facts; tendency to avoid biased reporting; refusing pejorative terms; a space for valid and logical
disagreement; giving an opportunity to respond to those who are attacked; intransigence toward the
influence of the commercial and political interests.
Humanity and solidarity – doing no direct and intentional damage to others; minimizing harm; being
open minded and thoughtful; having due regard for the rights of the public and the moral quality of
journalism. "
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BBC editorial guidelines
Section 4, Impartiality: „Impartiality lies and it is in the core of the BBC’s commitment to its
audience... News in whatever form must be treated with due impartiality, giving due weight to events,
opinion and main strands of argument... „
Section 10, Politics, public policy and polls: „The principles related to our political impartiality…are
central in our reporting on politics and public policy…we must give due weight to all main strands of
argument and to all parties….We should not make a campaign, neither allow us to be used for
campaign’s purpose”.
Ethical Journalism Initiative of the International Federation of Journalists
„Journalists should avoid outside interests or commitments which could damage their reputation for
impartiality, fairness and integrity…High profile journalists – such as popular presenters of television
programmes or leading newspaper columnists – particularly need to be seen as impartial.
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