Experts call for more clarity and focus on UAE media ethics

Dubai: Legal and media experts at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature have called for closer implementation and development of laws related to journalism in the UAE.

Their comments came on Saturday during a panel session on UAE Journalism: A Question of Ethics.

Panellists debated the code of ethics expected of local press and discussed how federal media laws and regulations need greater enforcement and review. The five day literature festival concluded on March 9.

Session chair Diana Hamade Al Ghurair, an Emirati lawyer and legal consultant, said it was “no secret that society needs a press that is free and independent to expose wrongdoing in politics, business or professions”.

However, she added, the press itself is “not immune from ethical problems”. Diana pressed panellists to critique the journalism ethics code and media law in the UAE.

Gulf News Editor At Large Francis Matthew said: “[The code of ethics] is a beginning, it can be reviewed. It respects the society of the UAE. The question is how do we implement the press law.”

Matthew urged the press to not only set standards but monitor adherence to them as well.

“The media companies in the UAE should be prepared to make it binding. If the journalist lied, did you dismiss him? If he cut and paste – plagiarised – was he sacked?”

He added it was “unfortunate” how violations can face criminal charges in the penal code while separately subjected to the civil charge of libel.

Matthews said it was not enough to just have guidelines, stressing the need for clarity in implementation as well. He cited an example of a UAE ban on “insulting brotherly nations” in the press.

“The trouble is: which nation and which insult? (For example) once ‘brotherly’ Saddam Hussain became a dictator. Law and ethics can get confused.”

CNN’s Caroline Faraj added there was a constant need to review such codes in keeping up with developments.

“We at CNN have standards and practices that are updated [say] every month or so. The management keeps sending it to CNN workers. We’re expected to read it carefully, some of it you’ve to answer back and sign it. It goes back to our headquarters in Atlanta,” she added.

Meanwhile, Baina Al Mulhim, a Saudi writer and researcher, said the relationship between media and society can sometimes be “tense” if ethics are seen to have been ignored. Baina said the press was “like a mirror” that reflects the community but there were occasions where “this mirror was darkened or coloured.”

Dherar Belhoul, general director of Watani, added the UAE constitution safeguarded free speech but “the problem is no one really reads it fully. We’ve got a code of ethics and I challenge journalists to read and adopt it.”