“Is it really necessary? To me, there is no need. Ask any professional journalist in this country, and I am sure he/she will say ‘No’. Because such a code has negative connotations.“It presupposes the notion that journalists are sometimes prone to adopting unethical practices in the sourcing and presentation of news, editorials and feature articles.
He said if at all such a code was necessary, it should be applied only to proponents and purveyors of fake news.“But fake news is not the work of professional journalists. They are always the work of anonymous social media activists who lack any form of training, ethical considerations and conscience.
Lee opined that a code of ethics enforced by the Government may inadvertently muzzle journalists, making them hesitant to report on issues that could be perceived as anti-government. “Such a body will be fairer as it can ensure the interests of all parties, including the government, the opposition and the public,” he said.
These include being the voice of the plural society; being transparent and with integrity; fairness in conveying information, validity and accuracy of information, independence from personal interests and protecting the privacy and confidentiality of sources. The card serves as an official identification document for media practitioners from media agencies recognised by the government to cover official events.