Azerbaijan, Baku, September 1 / Trend M. Aliyev /
Journalists in Azerbaijan will undertake not to sensationalize crime, violence, abuse and suicide under planned changes to the Code of Professional Ethics of Azerbaijani Journalists, the chairman of the Azerbaijani Press Council said Wednesday.
"The press often reveals [the identity of] underage children, and victims of sexual violence," Press Council chairman Aflatun Amashov said at a round table meeting with the OSCE.
He said that journalists must not prejudice the objectivity of legal proceedings, create panic, or exaggerate terrorist acts in their reporting of news events.
Press Council member Yunus Oguz said that the Azerbaijani media has been guilty of "black PR" or using politically motivated smear tactics ahead of November's parliamentary elections.
"The OSCE and the Press Council must keep working together to prevent similar cases," he said.
Amashov said that the round table was held to prepare for a conference on media self-regulation to be held by the Press Council and the OSCE on Sept. 6.Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az
