C.M.C.C

INTRODUCTION / CODE OF PRACTICE / CODE COMMITTEE

PRESS ETHICS COMMITTEE

An Ethics Committee is established (hereinafter called “the Committee”) which is charged with monitoring the implementation of this Code.

The Committee, including its Chairman, consists of thirteen members. They are individuals of high moral standard and established high reputation. The Chairman of the Committee should preferably have legal training.

The Chairman and three of the members of the committee are appointed jointly by the Union of Journalists, the Association of Publishers and the Owners of Electronic Media. The other nine members are appointed, three by the Union of Journalists, three by the Association of Publishers and three by the Owners of Electronic Media.

The post Chairman of member of the Committee becomes vacant upon the death, resignation of conviction for an offence involving fraud or for reasons of physical or mental incapacity. Such a vacancy is filled by applying the above provisions.

The Committee’s tenure of office is two years. In case of temporary absence of the Chairman, his duties are carried out by that member of the Committee, who, by a unanimous decision of the Committee taken at its first meeting, has been nominated acting Chairman.

The Committee may take procedural decisions only if at least the President and six of it members are present.
Breach of the Code is established by a decision of the Committee which is taken by a majority of seven votes. The person or the media against whom of which the complaint has been made is entitled to be present of to be represented in the procedure before the Committee and is given every opportunity to be heard, to give explanations personally or though other persons.

The Committee makes rules of procedure which are put into force on the date on which they have been notified to the Union of Journalists, the Association of Publishers and the Owners of Electronic Media.

The Committee receives, deals with and decides upon complaints about alleged violations of this Code by a journalist and/or the media. It also issues, within the spirit of this Code guidance notes for interpretation purposes.
The Media an those working for them undertake the obligation to cooperate with the Committee in carrying out its investigations.

The Committee may, exceptionally, deal on its own initiative with a case, which may be tantamount to a breach of the Code, due to its importance and seriousness. The aim of the Committee is the settlement, the soonest possible, of any dispute that may have arisen by the breach of this Code. If no settlement is achieved, the Committee examines the complaint and decides whether the Code has been breached.

The Committee is not entitled to impose any penalty of to adjudicate compensation or to deal with a complaint which is the subject matter of a procedure before a Court or other organ having jurisdiction under law. The decisions and findings of the Committee are published. The journalist or the media found in a decision for breach of the Code has an obligation to publish the relevant decision.

The operational expenses and other relevant expenses of the Committee are being equally borne by the Union of Journalists, the Publishers’ Association and the Owners of Electronic Media.