JOURNALISMCODEOFETHICS

The right to give expression, opinion and press is protected by Pancasila, the
Constitution of 1945 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.The freedom of
press provides society to obtain information in order to servethe essential needsand
improve the quality of human life. In realizing the freedom of the press,journalistsin
Indonesia have to aware of interest of the nation, social responsibility, diversity of
society,andreligiousnorms.
For the implementationof the functions,rights, obligationsandrole,journalistshave to
respect the rights of everyone. So, journalists or press are demanded to be
professional.To guarantee thefreedom ofthe press andensurepublic'srighttoobtain
the correct information, Indonesian journalists need the foundation of moral and
professional ethics as operational guidelines.So,journalistsof Indonesia establishthe
journalismcodeofethics.

Article1
The Indonesian journalist is independent, produces news stories that are accurate,
balancedandwithoutmalice.
Interpretation:
a. Independent means reporting events or facts in line with ones conscience
without interference, coercion and intervention from other parties including the
ownersofthepressenterprise.
b. Accuratemeansitisbelievedtobetruebasedontheeventthatoccurred.
c. Balancedmeansallpartiesgetequaltreatment.
d. Withoutmalicemeansthereisnointentionallyandsolelytoabuseothers.
Article2
Indonesian journalists have to take professional method or manner in carrying out
assignments.
Interpretation:
Professionalmethodsare
a. Identifyingjournalistsidentitytotheinformants
b. Respectapersonsrightofprivacy.
c. Nobribing.
d. Producingafactualnewsstorywithclearnewssources.
e. Taking and mounting ofvideos,photos, andsound isfurnishedwith information
aboutthesourceandpresentedinabalancedway.
f. Respecting the traumatic experience of a news source in presenting pictures,
photos,sound.

g. Refrain from plagiarism, include of quoting another journalists work as his/her

own.
h. The use of certain methods can be considered to investigative reporting for the
publicinterest.

Article3
The Indonesian journalist always verifies information, conducts balanced reporting,
does not mix facts with biased opinion, and upholds the presumption of innocence
principle.
Interpretation:
a. Verifying information means conductingacheck and recheck on the truth ofthe
informationconcerned.
b. Balancedmeansprovidingproportional newsspaceandtimeforeveryindividual
party.
c. Biasedopinionis a journalistspersonal opinion. This isdistinctfrominterpretive
opinion,whichisthejournalistsinterpretationofthefacts.
d. Presumptionof innocence istheprinciple ofrefrainingfrompassingjudgment on
someone.

Article4
The Indonesian journalist refrains from producing false, slanderous, sadistic and
obscenenewsstories.

Article5
TheIndonesianjournalistdoesnotdiscloseand broadcasttheidentityofvictimsfroma
sexuallyexploitative crime and refrains from identifying a minor who committed a
criminalact.

Article6
TheIndonesianjournalistdoesnotmisusehis/herprofessionandacceptsnobribe.

Article7
TheIndonesianjournalisthastherightofrefusaltoprotecttheidentityofanewssource
who does not wish his/her identity and whereabouts to be known, abides by the
conditions for an embargo, background and off the record information as mutually
agreed.

Article8

The Indonesian journalist does not write or report news based on prejudice or
discrimination against anyone on the basis of differences in ethnicity, race, color,
religion, gender, and languageanddoes not degrade the dignityof theweak,thepoor,
thesick,thementallyorphysicallydisabled.

Article9
The Indonesian journalist respects the right of the newssources private lifeexceptin
the public interest. Respecting the right of the news source constitutes an attitude of
toleranceand caution.Privatelifepertainstoallmattersoflifeofanindividualandhisor
herfamilyotherthanwhatislinkedwiththepublicinterest.

Article10
The Indonesian journalist immediately retracts, rectifies, and corrects errors and
inaccuracies in a news story accompanied with an apology to readers, listeners or
viewers. Immediately means as soonas possible,with or without areprimandfroman
outsideparty.
Anapologyisextendedifthemistakerelatestoastoryssubstance.

Article11
The Indonesian journalist accedes to the right of reply and the right of correctionin a
proportionalmanner.

Source:
KodeEtikJurnalistik,
http://www.lpds.or.id/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti
cle&id=40:kodeetikjurnalistik&catid=30:kodeetikjurnalistik&Itemid=32
,Mar14,2006
JournalismCodeofEthicsIndonesia,
http://www.eyeonethics.org/journalistcodeofethicsinasia/codeofethicsoftheindone
sianjournalist/
,Mar14,2006