Byron Buckley (right), president of the Press Association of Jamaica, raps with Rebecca Park, deputy public affairs officer at the United States Embassy, and Claude Robinson (centre), retired broadcaster and compiler of the media's new code of ethics document, during a meeting at the Knutsford Court Hotel in St Andrew yesterday. - Ian Allen/Photographer
Members of the Press and Media associations of Jamaica (PAJ)/(MAJ), met yesterday at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston to discuss the code of practice document.
This document, now in its 'draft stage', once becoming official, will replace the old 1965 Code of Ethics document. The document was born out of an idea to uphold and enforce compliance with the code.
Byron Buckley, president of the PAJ, while addressing the members, disclosed that there was greater demand for accountability in the way the media carry out their job.
Regulation needed
He also added that there is an overt and sometimes covert move by the political directorate to implement, regulate and censor the media. Therefore, he said that a logical response to the call would be for the media to regulate themselves.
According to Buckley, the document was constantly being reviewed.
Desmond Richards, former president of the PAJ, who was asked to peruse the document and make critical points, gave his views on areas such as individual privacy and how it should affect the media; children in criminal cases; listening devices and how he believes it should be used by the media; financial journalism and conflict of interest.
Main weakness
"I think the main weakness in this document, from my perspective, is the section that deals with conflict of interest," said Richards.
Other members of the media made their contribution to the different parts of the document, giving their views on what should or should not be added to improve the document. These were noted by the president of the PAJ and Claude Robinson, veteran broadcaster and drafter of the document.