The new media actors who include bloggers and other players using digital platforms to generate and disseminate information, news and debate content recently adopted the code, which serves to provide basic standards to be observed by online media practitioners who publish in the public interest in Zimbabwe.
The code that has been customised for new media practitioners includes sections on accuracy, fairness, transparency, freedom of expression and security of information.
VMCZ already has a mainstreamed code for formal journalists.
“It is hoped that this voluntary code will promote professional and ethical conduct among bloggers so that they disseminate information that is accurate, fair and balanced,” said VMCZ’s Tafadzwa Tseisi in a statement.
Speaking at a meeting organized by the self-regulating media body in partnership with Magamba Network to review and adopt the digital media code, former VMCZ executive director and blogger, Takura Zhangazha, said there were concerns of unethical conduct by new media practitioners that included plagiarism.
“There has been a public outcry on plagiarism against a tendency of some colleagues overlooking ethical considerations by using other comrades’ work…without their consent.
“This calls for a bloggers association, a body that will focus on copyrights issues and one that promotes professionalism within the digital media arena,” he said, urging digital media actors to be professional.
“If one’s blog or website is to become popular for wrong reasons, he or she is bound to lose their credibility. So it is critical that we disseminate content that is accurate, fair and balanced as this contributes immensely to credibility,” he said.
Her Zimbabwe director, Fungai Machirori, said an ethical code would bring a dilemma for some new media players.
“How does one slot issues on objectivity, truthfulness and fairness on satirical content?” she asked.
Three Men on a Boat founder, Larry Kwirirayi said new online media players should avoid surreptitious means of gathering information.
“There should be a line drawn when one is gathering information with the intent to publish and when two people are having a normal conversation.
“Recording people without their consent and publishing the information is devious and unprofessional,” he said.
Current VMCZ executive director, Loughty Dube, said the code was motivated by the need for decency in new media.
“The adoption of the code is a culmination of processes by digital media players who resolved to work in partnership with VMCZ and draft a voluntary code of conduct to promote professionalism and ethics on digital media platforms. The recently adopted digital media code was subsequently drafted by Machirori,” said Tseisi.
This article was published in The Zimbabwean http://www.thezimbabwean.co/2015/09/code-of-ethics-for-new-media-players/
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