There are several legal and ethical guidelines news reporters must follow to avoid legal issues. These include protecting the privacy of minors by not revealing personal details about those under 18, avoiding promoting harmful behaviors like alcohol/drugs, not using bad language, and not acting in contempt of court by breaching official secrets or guidelines from regulatory bodies. Libel and defamation laws must also be followed to avoid falsely accusing individuals or releasing private information without consent. When covering elections, reporters cannot show bias and must give all parties equal representation without endorsing or criticizing any particular politician. The Official Secrets Act also prevents publication of private information about public officials and locations for security reasons.