Revised Editor’s Code of Practice

The Editors’ Code of Practice Committee has published a revised version of the Editors’ Code of Practice, which will come into for on 1 January 2016.

The main changes to the Code are:

• An amendment to Clause 1 – accuracy – making specific reference to headlines which are not supported by the text.
• The reporting of suicide is now the subject of a stand-alone clause, whereas it was previously part of the clause on intrusion into shock and grief.
• An amendment to Clause 12 – discrimination – to include the need to avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual’s gender identity. This is an addition to the existing characteristics of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability.
• The pre-amble of the Code has been amended to include reference to the duty of editors to resolve complaints swiftly and cooperate with IPSO.
• The definition of public interest has been updated. This, the Editors’ Code of Practice Committee have said, has been done in line with the Defamation Act 2013, Data Protection Act 1998 and Crown Prosecution Service Guidance.

The Editors’ Code sets out the standards signed up to by all members of IPSO. The Code is also incorporated into the FT Editorial Code of Practice, which will also incorporate the revisions.

Links:

The revised Code can be found here.

The existing IPSO Code, which remains in force until the end of the year can be found here.

Press release from the Editors’ Code of Practice Committee

The Guardian –  ‘Editors’ Code of Practice revised to prevent gender bias and wayward headlines’