Many countries have codes of conduct to guide (or regulate) journalists in their work. These may be promulgated by professional or trade union bodies, by media houses or by regulatory authorities. There are also international codes of conduct, such as that adopted by the International Federation of Journalists.

The general principles contained in these ethical codes have equal applicability during election periods and form the basis for the professional standards that journalists and editors should apply at all times. However, it is often considered useful to develop a specific code of conduct to address the particular professional dilemmas that may arise during elections in greater detail.

Codes of conduct for journalists and editors are most effective when the media practitioners themselves are involved in drawing them up. The standards in the code are then seen as aids to effective journalism and not restrictions. Sometimes this will be done by the media alone; on other occasions it may be done in consultation with other stakeholders, including the electoral management body and political parties.

Elements of a code of conduct

A code of conduct for election reporting will include a mixture of general ethical standards, applicable in all circumstances, and those specific to election periods. This is a possible check-list of standards, derived from International IDEA’s proposed code of conduct (which is itself based upon many existing codes from different countries):

• The first duty of a journalist is to report accurately and without bias.
• A journalist shall report only in accordance with facts of which s/he knows the origin. A journalist shall not suppress essential information.
• A journalist shall observe professional secrecy regarding the source of information obtained in confidence.
• A journalist shall report in a balanced manner. If a candidate makes an allegation against another candidate, the journalist should seek comment from both sides wherever possible.
• A journalist shall do the utmost to correct any published information that is found to be harmfully inaccurate.
• As far as possible, a journalist shall report the views of candidates and political parties directly and in their own words, rather than as they are described by others.
• A journalist shall avoid using language or expressing sentiments that may further discrimination or violence on any grounds, including race, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinions, and national or social origins.
• When reporting the opinions of those who do advocate discrimination or violence, a journalist shall do the utmost to put such views in a clear context and to report the opinions of those against whom such sentiments are directed.
• A journalist shall not accept any inducement from a politician or candidate.
• A journalist shall not make any promise to a politician about the content of a news report.
• A journalist shall take care in reporting the findings of opinion polls. Any report should wherever possible include the following information:
  • who commissioned and carried out the poll and when
  • how many people were interviewed, where and how were they interviewed and what is the margin of error
  • what was the exact wording of the questions.

• A journalist shall regard the following as grave professional offences:
  • plagiarism
  • malicious misrepresentation
  • calumny, slander, libel or unfounded accusations
  • acceptance of a bribe in any form in consideration of either publication or suppression.

Many of these standards are examined in greater detail on separate pages.