Gulf | Bahrain
Code planned for journalists to end spread of sectarianism
Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) yesterday said that it was drafting an honour code in an attempt to halt the spread of sectarianism in the Bahrain press.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:00 March 19, 2007
Manama: Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) yesterday said that it was drafting an honour code in an attempt to halt the spread of sectarianism in the Bahrain press.
"We have noted with great concern that the coverage in the Bahraini press of the latest developments in the region is increasingly reflecting sectarian tendencies. We have also observed that some journalists have departed from the expected values of neutrality, objectivity and social responsibilities towards the citizens of Bahrain," the BJA said in a press statement.
The association which groups more than 300 Bahrain-based journalists hoped that an honour and ethics code would put an end to the degeneration of journalism standards and would eliminate growing sectarian tendencies in the media.
"The honour code will reinforce unity and solidarity between journalists at a time when the Bahraini press is under unprecedented onslaughts on their rights and integrity and is witnessing a surge in the legal cases brought against them," the BJA said.
Eisa Al Shayji, the BJA chairman, told Gulf News that journalists were not compelled to accept the code, but insisted on its significance for the profession.
"Our objective is to inform and educate, not dominate and control," he said.
Bahrain has six dailies in Arabic and two in English.
Sameera Rajab, a staunch pan-Arabist columnist, fuelled a debate among journalists by claiming that 80 per cent of Bahrain's columnists were a threat to national unity.
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