The book "Accurate Reporting and Media Ethics," prepared by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications to assist media members, was published in English and Kurdish.
The publication activities in nine languages, namely Turkish, English, Arabic, Azerbaijani Turkish, Russian, Spanish, German, French, and Greek, expanded to ten languages with the Kurdish translation of the book 'Accurate Journalism and Media Ethics'.
The book, which guides media professionals in maintaining accurate reporting standards and providing reliable information to the public, is also an important resource for those looking to improve their media literacy and gain access to accurate information.
The book, which is divided into five chapters titled "Media Membership," "News Source," "Presentation of the News," "Right to Correction and Reply," and "Use of Social Media by Journalists," seeks to promote accurate and reliable journalism.
Fahrettin Altun, Presidency's Head of Communications and author of the book's introduction, stated that moral codes based on values such as truthfulness, honesty, independence, objectivity, and impartiality emerged as the primary media ethics standards.
Head of Communications Altun stated that the fundamental goal of these moral codes that should regulate media activities is to establish reliability and emphasised that today, with the speed and prevalence of internet media and social media, the problems and debates surrounding media ethics shifted to a different dimension, transcending the boundaries of conventional media.
Remarking that conventional media, internet media, and social media all face ethical issues related to information pollution, disinformation, fake news, violation of privacy, hate speech, as well as advertising, copyright, and commercial orientation, Head of Communications Altun said, "Social and internet media, in particular, are environments in which the professional code of ethics is ignored and reputations are eroded, resulting in numerous violations."
Highlighting that abuses and ethical violations have increased in communication settings where non-professional media workers are also involved in content production, Head of Communications Altun said, "The media, which plays an important role in enabling individuals to exercise their right to receive information and news, thereby strengthening democracy, can only fulfil this function through professional production that adheres to ethical principles."
"The greatest responsibility for upholding media ethics undoubtedly falls on journalists"
Emphasising that the systematic application of these principles will reveal the vital role that accurate and reliable journalism plays in democracy, Head of Communications Altun said:
"As expressed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 'Relaying the truth to the reader and the viewer in its simplest form is a must for this profession.' The greatest responsibility for upholding media ethics undoubtedly falls on journalists. Members of the press who adhere to media ethics will continue to be the guarantors of the profession's prestige and reliability. I believe that this guide, prepared by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications in light of the principles compiled and systematised within the framework of international examples of media ethics, will be a valuable resource for media professionals and researchers. I would like to thank everyone who helped with the preparation of this work and wish success to our journalists who uphold media ethics and never deviate from the path of truth.
The publications of the Directorate of Communications translated into 10 languages
In a post on his social media account, Head of Communications Altun stated, "The Directorate of Communications' publication activities in English, Arabic, Azerbaijani Turkish, Russian, Spanish, German, French, and Greek, as well as Turkish, expanded to ten languages with the Kurdish translation of the book 'Accurate Reporting and Media Ethics.'"
Please click here for "Accurate Reporting and Media Ethics" book in English.
Please click here for the "Accurate Reporting and Media Ethics" book in Kurdish.