Venkat gives a talk about defamation at the workshop.
Venkat (right) presents certificate of participation to Jude Toyat, a reporter with
The Borneo Post Seeds by BPOnline. Also seen is Wee (centre).
KUCHING: Twenty-five local editors and journalists participated in a half-day workshop on ‘Law and Ethics for Media’ to impart in them the knowledge and skills in meeting the challenges of today’s digital era.
The workshop organised by Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (Azam Sarawak) in collaboration with Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) Sarawak branch was held at Hilton Hotel here yesterday. It was conducted by Dr Venkat Iyer, a barrister and academic attached to the School of Law of the University of Ulster where he teaches Constitutional Law, Media Law and Business Law.
CJA chairman Alice Wee said it was crucial to provide journalists with trainings to improve their writing skills and update their knowledge and understanding of the various journalism practices.
“It is crucial especially in this current era of more sophisticated and discerning audience and stakeholders. This is the main objective of CJA Sarawak branch,” she said at the closing of the workshop yesterday.
As with other professions, Wee said journalism was guided by a set of values and code of ethics.
“Many would think that we are above the law but in actual fact, we are not. Media practitioners are also subject to specific legislation covering their various areas of work. Thus, it is important for journalists to constantly update themselves according to the changing environment of journalism,” she added.
Venkat meanwhile talked about defamation, contempt of court, role of ethics in journalism, relationship between ethics and law, ethical challenges, impact of social media and the filter role of traditional media.
He also emphasised on the values of ethics which was important in reporting including fairness, accuracy and truth in reporting, keeping news and comments separate, ideals of objectivity, avoidance of hostile discrimination, protection against conflicts of interests and defence of dignity and independence of journalists.
Venkat is a former Niffield Press Fellow at Cambridge University and has acted as a consultant to a number of governments, private corporations and non-governmental organisations.
He runs training courses on media law and ethics for newspapers and media organisations around the world. He is the author of a number of books and articles, and is the editor of The Commonwealth Lawyer and The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, both published in London.
In 2008, the British government appointed him to the position of Law Commissioner for Northern Ireland, a position he held until May 2015.