The document provides guidelines for writers on their social and cultural responsibilities when reporting stories. It discusses the importance of being fair, unbiased, and respecting differences. It outlines 12 rules from the National Union of Journalists' code of conduct that writers should follow, including striving for accuracy, differentiating facts from opinions, avoiding intrusion or causing harm, and not plagiarizing. The code helps writers avoid producing material that could lead to discrimination or hatred based on attributes like age, gender, race, religion, disability, and sexual orientation.

1. TASK 10
(RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF WRITERS)
Alan Smith

2. Social and Cultural awareness
To define social awareness it would be that you should know what is socially
acceptable from you in society and you should act in that manner. Cultural awareness
however means that you should know the different cultures reading the newspaper
for example or other media products. You should respect and appreciate the
differences.
Understanding and following these are important when studying to be a journalist
because the way people are presented in your work may form the opinion of the
public reading it. It is vital your work is fair and unbiased.
To learn which aspects in writing you should be very accurate and balanced with, the
NUJ have produced a list that you can follow. Learning this as a trainee of the union
can give you the best possible start.
Terrorism, Race, Asylum and Immigration, HIV, Age, Disability and Suicide are all
part of the guidelines you should follow when reporting on a story given to you.
By following and taking these topics into account when producing your work you
will avoid
any upset within the public reading the media as well as stopping any further
discrimination by adding to the readers beliefs and misconceptions about people in
these categories already.

3. The NUJ's code of conduct was first developed in 1936. The union has an ethics
committee which is responsible for developing the NUJ's policy on ethics and
provides advice for members. The 12 rules set should be followed at all times.
1) At all times upholds and defends the principle of media freedom, the
right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed.
This first point explains the need for the public to be informed. They must be
informed with correct information and not opinion. Opinion can be used, however as
it states about media freedom and expression.
2) Strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed,
accurate and fair.
This second point makes it very clear that the information is accurate and fair rather
than you, the journalist making it sound like something it is not to fit in with your
opinion. Honest information should be presented so the reader can make their own
opinion.
3) Does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies.
This third rule looks into the correction of harmful inaccuracies. These can be in
relation to the guidelines on the previous slide.

4. 4) Differentiates between fact and opinion.
This can often get confusing in articles when writers get very passionate about their topic. It
is important to remain professional and realise that you are providing a service for the public
and they want news not your opinion on it.
5) Obtains material by honest, straightforward and open means, with the exception of
investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve
evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means.
Many of the rules cover the same issues concerning the importance to produce honest,
reliable and straightforward articles that clearly show the difference to what is fact and what
your opinion on the matter is. These rules are to make sure the journalist understands and
abides by them.
6) Does nothing to intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified
by overriding consideration of the public interest.
This covers over harassing people to gather information to produce a good story. This is
wrong. If the public can benefit from you going out of your way to cause grief then it can be
seen as acceptable, however in most cases this is a rule that needs to be followed.
7) Protects the identity of sources who supply information in confidence and material
gathered in the course of her/his work.
It is important that if a source asks not to be mentioned, you respect their wishes and not
include the name as this goes against their right to privacy.

5. 8) Resists threats or any other inducements to influence, distort or suppress
information and takes no unfair personal advantage of information gained in
the course of her/his duties before the information is public knowledge.
Again, this looks over the idea of taking the power of the occupation into your own
advantage. This is wrong, you should be providing information to the public as
they have a right to know and this should be as soon as possible.
If you have the information then you must produce it and inform the public.
9) Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the
grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status,
disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.
All the rules have equal importance, however this one you must make sure you
abide by. Producing material that can lead to discrimination is something that
should not happen. If the reader already has hatred towards one of these groups
then adding to it through the idea of ‘news’ then this can have bad consequences.
The work you produce should avoid any material in relation to disability
or race or any other important aspect. Unless you can portray them in a clear
manner which does not lead to hatred.

6. 10) Does not by way of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial
product or service save for the promotion of her/his own work or of the medium by which she/he is
employed.
You should not promote you work in any way to get your article or piece out there. Forcing information to
the public is not right. Providing the service should be the public wanting to choose for example the
newspaper you work for over another.
11) A journalist shall normally seek the consent of an appropriate adult when interviewing or
photographing a child for a story about her/his welfare.
This is a very delicate rule and needs to be understood. When working with children your story, it is very
important that a parent or guardian has allowed you to do so.
12) Avoids plagiarism.
This can be a very common factor within the media industry and that of taking credit for someone else’s
work. This is wrong. If you want to include extracts from a piece then you must state clearly where it is from
and by who.
The NUJ code includes a new 'conscience clause’ This states that can refuse to produce work in breach of
the code and will be given the support of their union if they do so.
A good example of the backing towards the clause was from Lord Justice Leveson recently. Sir Brian Henry
Leveson is an English judge, currently the President of the Queen's Bench Division. Leveson chaired
the public inquiry into
the culture, practices and ethics of the British press, prompted by the News of the World phone hacking
affair.

7. In this piece by the NUJ, they are announcing
that their long standing conscience is still
being supported and by the high figure of
Lord Leveson.
This first section is very clear and concise. It
is mentioning about the fact that the union
has been campaigning for years against
employers and that they are ‘delighted’ that
the journalists voices are finally being heard.
The text goes on to explain about Lord
Leveson listening to them and their concerns
however the last paragraph is what caught
the eye.
"It is disappointing that Lord Leveson has
not made recommendations in relation to
media ownership and plurality - it is significant
that the unfolding scandal at News
International happened in a company with a
35.15% share of the market and in a
workplace where the NUJ has been
effectively blocked by Rupert Murdoch for
years.
The report is looking into the idea that the
NUJ can finally start to look up with the
support of big names. The last sentence in
this paragraph is very interesting.
NUJ being blocked by Rupert Murdoch for
years. With this phone hacking scandal there
was no room for the union to take great
action.

8. According to the Oxford Dictionary a Connotation is an idea or feeling which
a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning. For example
the word ‘discipline’ has unhappy connotations of punishment and repression.
A connotation is in fact the opposite to denotation. A connotation is something that is
implied when a word is used, whereas a denotation is the actual definition.
In relation to journalism and the way they produce their work it is important that the correct
words and phrases are used to describe a person. The way in which you describe someone
or something can influence the reader.
The reaction to connotations can be either cultural or emotional. There are positive and
negative connotations that feature in pieces of text. For example; Dove meaning peace,
Hollywood meaning fame and Wall street suggesting wealth. With this there must be
negatives as well.
Using words such as Chicken meaning coward or referring to a woman as babe. Mistakes
can easily be made in your work so the NUJ have set more guidelines, this time to set out
what words you should use. There is also a contact number to ask someone who is there to
help.
Examples include; Bum- Homeless, Childish- Childlike, Difficult- Challenging, Fat-
Overweight, Fired- Terminated, Job- Career, Conceited- Self confident. The way you as a
journalist phrase one word can determine how successful you become and how
many people you may anger. You need to make sure that all your work is fair,
Balanced and does not harm any of the readers.

9. 31 percent of headlines and 53 percent of text about asylum across all newspapers has
negative connotations. Is it any wonder why many of the readers are becoming extremely
angry.
In an article by Chitra Nagarajan. ‘How politicians and the media made us hate immigrants’
it is mentioned that the problem is not immigration but socio-economic inequality.
‘Media outlets often inflate or speculate about numbers of asylum seekers, refugees and
immigrants. Newspaper and TV images play into the dominant stereotype of the young
dangerous man breaking into Britain and threatening ‘our’ communities’.
‘Language used to describe immigration is highly hostile across all newspaper types, with
‘illegal’ and ‘bogus’ the most commonly used terms to describe immigrants and asylum
seekers’
‘In addition to mis-reporting, there is also ‘over-reporting’. In 2002, for example, 25 percent
of Daily Mail and 24 percent of Daily Express articles were about asylum’.
This idea of over reporting ties in well with the idea of bias and not balancing articles. These
newspapers such as the Daily Mail and Express make an article to suit their own agenda
and is made in a way to relate to their opinions on the matter.
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/08/we-need-change-very-language-we-use-
talk-about-immigrants
https://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/chitra-nagarajan/how-politicians-and-media-
made-us-hate-immigrants

10. The NUJ have clear guidelines on all aspects in relation to making sure you are not being offensive in the work you
produce that is a service to he public.
Guidelines on reporting immigration and asylum:
Use the term "immigrant" with caution, it is still wrongly used to describe people born in Britain. Asylum seeker,
refugee or EU migrant worker? Get the terminology right. Asylum seeker is a person who has left their home country as
a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another country.
A refugee is someone who was an asylum seeker but who has now been granted refugee status.
An EU migrant worker is someone who has moved to the UK to work. Their stay in the UK may be temporary or longer
term.
When quoting politicians or public figures, verify if their statements on immigration are factual.
Ask experts who can help set the context and ensure you check details with a reputable source.
Many allegations are made about asylum seekers, ensure you substantiate them, if they are unable to be verified, make
this clear.
Don't use terms such as "bogus", "illegal" or "failed" asylum seeker. If necessary, use "refused" asylum seeker instead. A
fairer term to use for someone who has outstayed their visa is "undocumented" or "irregular".
Don't use emotive, value-laden language, such as "floods" of immigrants. Stick to facts.
These guidelines are very clear and detailed. You must stick to these, if you are not sure at any point during the process of
writing and article. Make sure you ask the union.
In terms of general guidelines you must only include a person's race if relevant. Check that you have it right. Would you
mention race if the person was white?
Do not assume a cultural background from a person's name – check with them or their community. Remember that Black
communities are culturally diverse. Get a full and correct view from representative organisations.
Exercise care, balance and proportionality when covering race relations issues.
https://www.nuj.org.uk/work/nuj-ethics/ The union can help with ethical issues via the NUJ ethics council, ethics helpline
and email support.

11. Alternative readings
When journalists write they have an image in their mind on who the reader will be. It is from this that the language
used may be changed to relate to them as the journalist will see them as sharing the same opinion.
That is not the case. Anybody could pick up the newspaper or magazine and find to be insulted by it. Is from this
that you as the writer needs to make sure that the piece is well balanced, accurate and does not cause any offense.
When looking at producing work to those who you believe share the same ethics and beliefs it is important to look
at Stuart Hall a Jamaican-born cultural theorist and sociologist.
There is a huge amount of detail concerning Hall and what he wrote about. Reception theory is something that can
be relevant towards journalists.
Also known as audience reception, this is when a group of readers have a shared cultural background and
interpret the text in similar ways.
It is likely that the less shared heritage a reader has with the artist, the less he or she will be able to recognise the
artist's intended meaning, and it follows that if two readers have vastly different cultural and personal experiences,
their reading of a text will vary greatly.
From this it explains that the less the person reading about the article knows about the writer the more offended
they will be, this is due to not understanding their meaning behind it. The idea of different cultures is important.
People may not understand the way you have written something as it may be something they have not
experienced before.
This means that as a journalist you must expect people to have never read from this newspaper before and you
must be careful and balanced with every topic as people can interpret things in different ways. Making sure
your article causes no offense is all that can be asked from you.