Preamble
The freedom to publish is vital to the
right of the people to be informed.
This freedom includes the right of a
newspaper to publish what it considers
to be news, without fear or favour, and
the right to comment upon it.
Freedom of the press carries
responsibilities. Members of the press
have a duty to maintain the highest
professional and ethical standards.
This Code sets the benchmark for
those standards. It is the duty of the
Ombudsman and Press Council to
ensure that it is honoured in the spirit
as well as in the letter, and the duty of
Code of Practice for
Newspapers and Magazines
publications to assist them in that task.
In dealing with complaints, the
Ombudsman and Press Council will
give consideration to what they
perceive to be the public interest. It is
for them to define the public interest
in each case, but the general principle
is that the public interest is invoked in
relation to a matter capable of
affecting the people at large so that
they may legitimately be interested in
receiving and the press legitimately
interested in providing information
about it.
Principle 1 – Truth and Accuracy
1.1 In reporting news and
information, newspapers and
magazines shall strive at all times for
truth and accuracy.
1.2 When a significant inaccuracy,
misleading statement or distorted
report or picture has been published, it
shall be corrected promptly and with
due prominence.
1.3 When appropriate, a retraction,
apology, clarification, explanation or
response shall be published promptly
and with due prominence.
Principle 2 – Distinguishing Fact and
Comment
2.1 Newspapers and magazines are
entitled to advocate strongly their own
views on topics.
2.2 Comment, conjecture, rumour
and unconfirmed reports shall not be
reported as if they were fact.
2.3 Readers are entitled to expect
that the content of a publication
reflects the best judgement of editors
and writers and has not been
inappropriately influenced by
undisclosed interests. Wherever
relevant, any significant financial
interest of an organisation should be
disclosed. Writers should disclose
significant potential conflicts of
interest to their editors.
Principle 3 – Fairness and Honesty
3.1 Newspapers and magazines shall
strive at all times for fairness and
honesty in the procuring and
publishing of news and information.
3.2 Publications shall not obtain
information, photographs or other
material through misrepresentation or
subterfuge, unless justified by the
public interest.
3.3 Journalists and photographers
must not obtain, or seek to obtain,
information and photographs through
harassment, unless their actions are
justified in the public interest.
Principle 4 – Respect for Rights
Everyone has constitutional protection
for his or her good name. Newspapers
and magazines shall not knowingly
publish matter based on malicious
misrepresentation or unfounded
accusations, and must take reasonable
care in checking facts before
publication.
Principle 5 - Privacy
5.1 Privacy is a human right,
protected as a personal right in the
Irish Constitution and the European
Convention on Human Rights, which is
incorporated into Irish law. The
private and family life, home and
correspondence of everyone must be
respected.
5.2 Readers are entitled to have news
and comment presented with respect
for the privacy and sensibilities of
individuals. However, the right to
privacy should not prevent publication
of matters of public record or in the
public interest.
5.3 Sympathy and discretion must
be shown at all times in seeking
information in situations of personal
grief or shock. In publishing such
information, the feelings of grieving
families should be taken into account.
This should not be interpreted as
restricting the right to report judicial
proceedings.
5.4 Public persons are entitled to
privacy. However, where a person
holds public office, deals with public
affairs, follows a public career, or has
sought or obtained publicity for his
activities, publication of relevant
details of his private life and
circumstances may be justifiable
where the information revealed relates
to the validity of the person’s conduct,
the credibility of his public statements,
the value of his publicly expressed
views or is otherwise in the public
interest.
5.5 Taking photographs of individuals
in private places without their consent
is not acceptable, unless justified by
the public interest.
Principle 6 – Protection of Sources
Journalists shall protect confidential
sources of information.
Principle 7 – Court Reporting
Newspapers and magazines shall strive
to ensure that court reports (including
the use of photographs) are fair and
accurate, are not prejudicial to the
right to a fair trial and that the
presumption of innocence is
respected.
Principle 8 – Prejudice
Newspapers and magazines shall not
publish material intended or likely to
cause grave offence or stir up hatred
against an individual or group on the
basis of their race, religion, nationality,
colour, ethnic origin, membership of
the travelling community, gender,
sexual orientation, marital status,
disability, illness, or age.
Principle 9 – Children
9.1 Newspapers and magazines shall
take particular care in seeking and
presenting information or comment
about a child under the age of 16.
9.2 Journalists and editors should
have regard for the vulnerability of
children and in all dealings with
children, should bear in mind the age
of the child, whether parental or other
adult consent has been obtained for
such dealings, the sensitivity of the
subject-matter, and what
circumstances if any make the story
one of public interest. Young people
should be free to complete their time
at school without unnecessary
intrusion. The fame, notoriety or
position of a parent or guardian must
not be used as sole justification for
publishing details of a child’s private
life.
Principle 10 – Publication of
the Decision of the Press
Ombudsman / Press Council
10.1 When requested or required by
the Press Ombudsman and/or the
Press Council to do so, newspapers
and magazines shall publish the
decision in relation to a complaint with
due prominence.
10.2 The content of this Code will be
reviewed at regular intervals.
Press Council of Ireland
1, 2 & 3 Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01 648 9130
Fax: 01 674 0046
Email: info@presscouncil.ie
www.presscouncil.ie
Office of the Press Ombudsman
1, 2 & 3 Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2
Telephone: Lo-call 1890 208 080
Fax: 01 674 0046
Email: info@pressombudsman.ie
www.pressombudsman.ie
Time in Tunis