Internal codes of ethics are documents that outline the basic principles and guidelines that a media organization has adopted for its employees. The master's thesis examines how these codes benefit journalists and editors of selected Slovenian media outlets, whether they have any difficulties in using the code, and where they see its shortcomings. I was also interested in what sanctions, if any, these documents provide for in the event of violations and how the sanctioning procedures work. Since the Code of Ethics for journalists of Slovenia is also available to help Slovenian journalists in their work, I checked how the interviewees viewed the existence of this document and the code of their organization. Based on semi-structured interviews, I found that journalists and editors have various benefits and difficulties when using codes. The advantages of internal codes of ethics include the presence of detailed guidelines that determine behaviour in specific situations, the possibility of self-reflection on decisions made, and support in the event of criticism or complaints. The shortcomings of the codes are most often seen in the absence of rules for the use of artificial intelligence, which is relevant in all areas of journalistic work. I have found that four out of seven analysed codes contain at least one provision on what happens if a journalist violates the code, while the procedures for verifying violations are mostly absent. The Code of Ethics for journalists of Slovenia represents the foundation of their work for most interviewees, while the codes of their media organizations build on this base of principles with more detailed guidelines.
|
