Watchdog to police media conduct

MEDIA MONITORING: The UAE is to set up a committee to oversee the media's conduct.

Editors of UAE newspapers have announced plans for a committee to monitor and enforce a media code of conduct.

The watchdog, whose members will be named by local dailies in the coming days, will be chaired by Saeed Al Badi, a member of the UAE Journalists’s Association (UAEJA), state news agency Wam reported.

The move was announced yesterday at a meeting attended by editors of Arabic dailies Al Khaleej, Al Bayan, Al Ittihad and Emarat Al Youm along with the editor of English daily Gulf News.

UAEJA chairman Mohammed Yusouf said “The committee will act an observer and an eye-opener in order to enhance regulations stated in the charter. It will have no censorship role that will involve restriction and accountability”.

“Press freedom is absolute and commitment to the charter’s general guidelines is left to he will of papers” he continued, urging media outlets to educate journalists to behave responsibly according to its outlines.

The charter of honour and code of ethics, passed in October 2007, calls for credible, accurate and unbiased news reporting.

It stipulates journalists should use only legitimate means to obtain information, images and documents from genuine sources, and voice fair an neutral comment and criticism. Journalists are expected to avoid deliberately provoking public feelings, and avoid stories that carry any sign of discrimination.

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