Malaysia’s New Code of Ethics for Journalists: A Critical Review
Abstract
based on comparative antecedents and contemporary review of the tenets of the new code of conduct. The Malaysia Media Council was established in 2018 as an institution for updating media rules for print, broadcast, and online media. This study also explains the administrative factors leading up to the code of conduct’s implementation including the controversial mechanism declared for its enforcement. The eight standards were established not only as a means of ensuring ethical conduct in newsgathering and dissemination but also as a way for challenging the government’s grant of press certification. Ultimately, an argument is made based on the importance of independence as central to the ethical principles of professional journalism.
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Bernama (2023, May 3). RSF: Malaysia ranked 73rd in World Press Freedom Index 2023. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/05/905297/rsf-malaysia-ranked-73rd-world-press-freedom-index-2023
British Broadcasting Corporation (2022). Our code. https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/howwework/policiesandguidelines/pdf/code-of-conduct-2022.pdf
Britshi, Z.A. (2024, February 21). Malaysian government launches new code of ethics for journalists. Malaysia World News. https://www.malaysiaworldnews.com/malaysian-government-launches-new-code-of-ethics-for-journalists
Chan, D. (2020, February 3). Malaysian media council’s draft bill outlines six principals. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/562233/malaysian-media-councils-draft-bill-outlines-six-principals
Chern, L.T. (2024, February 21). Media council should come before journalists’ code of ethics, says Lawyers for Liberty. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/21/media-council-should-come-before-journalists039-code-of-ethics-says-lawyers-for-liberty
Department of Information Malaysia, Ministry of Communications. (2024). Malaysian code of ethics for journalists (English).
FMT Reporters. (2024, February 20). Media code of ethics must be self-regulated, says industry rights group. Free Malaysia Today. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/02/20/media-code-of-ethics-must-be-self-regulated-says-industry-rights-group/
Kasinathan, S. (2024, February 20). Putrajaya launches new journalism ethics code to be overseen by Media Council, vows freedom of expression. Malay Mail. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/02/20/putrajaya-launches-new-journalism-ethics-code-to-be-overseen-by-media-council-vows-freedom-of-expression/119001
Lee, B. (2024, February 20). Communications Ministry launches Malaysian code of ethics for journalists. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/20/communications-ministry-launches-malaysian-code-of-ethics-for-journalists
Naidu, W. (2024, February 22). Consider this: Journalism ethics (Part 1) - State-initiated code basis for accreditation [Video]. Daily Motion. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8t4b4m
Protem Committee of the Malaysia Media Council (2020). Report of the protem committee Malaysian Media Council. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TphLkPOaD3Phq8axVyuvCiO4yAvP3HDOCho8xzeAM74/edit#
Protem Committee of the Malaysia Media Council (2020). Draft Malaysian Media Council act by the protem committee of the Malaysia Media Council. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FNmc-g5cRT3UFOrcsa2CnN8vO3kb-G73vlGq3Br56XE/edit#
Quinn, P.L. (2000). Divine command theory. In H. LaFollette & I. Persson (Eds.), The Blackwell guide to ethical theory (pp. 81-102). Blackwell Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1111/b.9780631201199.1999.00006.x
Society of Professional Journalists (2014). SPJ code of ethics. https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
ISSN: 0126-5008
eISSN: 0126-8694