NUJ Guide To Reporting Terrorism (2008)

[TonyGosling]

As a member of the NUJ Ethics Council in 2007/2008 I'm proud to say I initiated the drawing up of this document and arranged for civil society groups - particularly in London - to contribute.
The process was lead by Ethics Council Chair Chris Frost.

The PDF of the document is sadly no longer on the NUJ site as it was here
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=1445


NUJ ETHICS COUNCIL GUIDELINES ON REPORTING TERRORISM

When reporting official claims (by police, government or security services) about terror suspects or terrorist threats
■■ Request evidence for the claims and report any failure to provide meaningful information.
■■Ask why the ordinary criminal law does not suffice to counter threats of violent activities. When reporting official claims about ‘anti-terror’ legislation and its role in protecting society
■■ Be careful not to present claims as fact; qualify them as alleged or suspected. Otherwise you may be complicit in inciting racial and religious hatred, or in smearing specific individuals if the claims are false.
■■ Remind readers that ‘anti-terror’ laws authorise police action against non-violent activities, so that individuals may be suspected for their religious practices or beliefs, for the people they associate with, the organisations they belong to or the websites they visit.
■■ Remember that only 20 per cent of those arrested under terrorism laws are charged with a terrorism-related offence, that only 5 per cent are convicted – and again that the offences include a broad range of non-violent activities, for instance organising or taking part in legitimate
public protests.
■■Avoid implying that terror suspects are terrorists, or that a ‘terrorist conviction’ involves planning or taking part in violent activities.

When presented with an ‘expert’ on terrorism or related subjects
■■Ask about the expert’s qualifications and why their opinion should be given particular weight.
■■Check how the expert’s work is funded.
■■ Try to ensure a political balance with different expert views.

The union’s advice is always based on its Code of Conduct that sets
the standards for good professional practice.

The NUJ has revised and updated its Code of Professional Conduct. All members are expected to abide by it, and the union will stand by them if doing so gets them into trouble.

If you have an ethical problem at work, check the Code, call the union’s Ethics Hotline 0845 450 0864 or email ethics@nuj.org.uk

The Code is a source of strength for journalism and for us all.
It’s our code.
Let’s stick to it.