There is no real journalists’ code of ethics

Journalists' code of ethics is something hot on many people's lips these days because of the recent incident where a newspaper photographer was punched at a funeral service.

He was taking pictures at the funeral of a victim of the MH17 tragedy when he was assaulted by a family member. He suffered a cut nose and a damaged camera.

When news of the incident first surfaced, many people were on the photographer's side, claiming that he was just doing his job and he became a victim of assault.

He made a police report and the media also reported it like it was. Even journalist associations started condemning the act, calling for action to be taken against the assailant.

Then the other side of the story started emerging, as it always does. Apparently, the photographer (and other journalists there) was not respecting the grieving family's privacy.

Now, I don't really know the exact details since I wasn't there, neither have I spoken to the photographer, the family members or anyone at the scene.

But here's my two cents’ worth of what I think about the journalists' code of ethics. There is no fixed code of ethics practised by journalists.

Sure, there are the basics that everyone understands like honesty, integrity, objectivity, etc. But really, there are no fixed rules that they all have to abide by. Ethics is not law.

It all depends on the individual journalist, the editors and the news organisation. That's why there are many different kinds of news organisations.

There are the lowbrow “sleazy” tabloids fed by the paparazzi right up to the high nose “elite” newspapers of the those with integrity. But these are all only perceptions, right?

I myself am a journalist and I don't want to sound so self-righteous because who is to say my personal code of ethics is of higher value than another’s, right?

It really is whatever you tell yourself so you can sleep at night. And what I tell myself is that respect is the main factor for everything.

I try my best to respect my subjects, respect my readers and audience, respect the society and culture that I am in, and I also try to respect myself and my profession.

I have covered both the MH370 and MH17 tragedy extensively and let me tell you, journalists can get pretty ruthless when attempting to get their stories.

There were many times at the airport when I saw swarms of reporters and photographers ignoring the quiet and polite pleas of the family members for them to be left alone.

And never once would the reporters and photographers listen to the pleas. They would only back off once there was shouting, banging of tables and even swinging of arms and legs.

I have to admit I was a part of several swarmings. But most of the time, I just looked on from a distance. Many other journalists just looked on too.

Like I mentioned previously, the action of a journalist is whatever he or she feels comfortable with and thinks is the right thing to do for himself or herself.

Every single journalist knows that the justification is that the story needs to be told so society will be informed. Even the families of the victims understand this.

But they are grieving and we cannot put ourselves in their grieving shoes. And as journalists, we need to understand that they will do what they feel is right to them too.

And that's why to me, the most paramount thing for everyone from both sides of the divide to do at this particular moment is to have respect for one another.

I actually missed some really dramatic and emotional stories because most of the time I decided to just look on at the swarming of the family members.

But at least I feel like I am respecting them. Then again, that's just what I tell myself so I can sleep at night. And that's just me. – September 5, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.