Earlier this month, iMediaEthics wrote about UK reporter Richard Peppiatt, who revealed that he faked stories for the Daily Star when he resigned. Peppiatt had stated that he took assignments for “anti-Muslim” stories because he was “too scared for my career.” The New Statesman noted that the National Union of Journalists had suggested a conscience clause which would allow journalists to pass on assignments they viewed violated ethics codes.
Sarah Kavanagh, the NUJ’s campaigns and communications officer, responded to iMediaEthics’ e-mail inquiry asking about the status of the conscience clause proposal.
Kavanagh wrote to iMediaEthics:
“We’re still pursuing the conscience clause. We’d prefer it to be written into employment law, but the PCC code would be a start. The latest version of the NUJ code is at http://www.nuj.org.uk/getfile.php?id=538 and as you’ll see it contains the conscience clause.”