errors that may result from inattention and negligence”. The second rule warns against “distorting or misrepresenting information or facts under any pretext”. The third calls for “avoiding judgment on report- ed topics” and “descriptive analysis not supported by confirmed infor- mation or facts”. The guide also includes 12 other professional rules, such as “respecting peoples’ diverse cultures, traditions and customs” and “avoiding ambiguity in the use of vocabulary and terms that could lead to scepticism regarding the credibility of news”. The guide also warns against the use of fabricated images and reports, and urges that “analysis and commentary must be left to those with knowledge and expertise”, and “the lines between news and opinions or commentaries should be made clear to avoid the snares of bias and impartiality” (1) . Dealing with sources is another topic that the guide addresses in detail. It states that, “news should be attributed to a known and reliable source, and the motives and justifications of the source declining to dis- close his or her identity should be respected, if they are valid”. It also recommends the “verification of the motives of sources who refuse to reveal their identities to check whether disclosure would expose them to prosecution or accountability” (2) . It further recommends dealing with official and unofficial sources on equal standing of importance, and not to trust sources who demand money for offering information. The second section of this chapter on “credibility and objectivity”, discusses “professional integrity” and lays out seven rules. The first of which relates to headlines and promotional materials, advising not to “overplay or oversimplify... to avoid misrepresentation of the broad- cast material”. The seventh rule is about “professional integrity”, it de- fines the steps to be taken when a piece of news proves to be incorrect or inaccurate. The guide requires the editor or producer involved to “re-broadcast the material in question” and to “admit the mistake and apologise for it promptly”. (3) It also requires them to broadcast the mate-
(1) “The Professional Code of Conduct”, Al Jazeera Media Network , p. 7.
(2) Ibid, pp. 11-12.
(3) Ibid, p. 13-14.
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